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  Ransom stood too. “I have a bad feeling about this.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “That shithead Dusty Granger was messing with Lynn Halstead out in the parking lot at The Dillo tonight. I had to run him off. She’s visiting from Dallas and staying at the motel while she’s here.”

  Jack shook his head. “If he’s responsible and I find out for sure, the dumbass has broken probation and I’ll send his sorry hide straight back to prison.”

  Ransom knew Lynn was in good hands with Jack but not following the sheriff wasn’t an option. He pulled into the motel parking lot right behind Jack and spotted the huge mess. Sure enough, the vandalized vehicle belonged to Lynn. It looked as though someone had taken a hammer to the pretty white car. The tires were slashed and a certain asshole had painted ugly slut in red across the side of the car.

  Lynn stood in the doorway of her room next to the Lazy Aces night manager. She wore a thin robe belted around her waist and her shoulder-length blonde hair was wet as if she’d just stepped from the shower. Her face, devoid of makeup, was spectacular but he couldn’t think about that now. All he wanted was to pull her against him and promise he’d kick the shit out of Granger the next time he saw the bastard. Her eyes widened a little when he walked up next to Jack but she quickly shifted her attention to the sheriff.

  She started to step out into the mess in the parking lot but Ransom gently took her arm. “Honey, you’re barefoot. Go on in and get some shoes.”

  Lynn nodded and he held the door for her while she slipped into a pair of flip-flops. Once she was outside again, he watched her carefully as she answered Jack’s questions. Jack walked around the vehicle taking notes of the damage. He paused beside the mean spray-painted words and shook his head. “I’m sorry this happened.”

  “Me too,” Lynn said quietly. Though she held herself proudly, Ransom knew she was shaken. It had been a hell of an evening for her and he was ashamed and saddened that her one trip to Delight had begun this way. Knowing he shouldn’t, Ransom moved close and draped an arm around her. Lynn leaned against him and it felt so right having her there it scared him.

  The windshield was beaten all to hell and a couple of side windows were completely gone. A paper sack was stuffed beneath a windshield wiper. Jack snapped a couple of pictures and then pointed at the bag. “What the hell?”

  Lynn shrugged but offered no explanation. Ransom knew exactly who had done this and if the altercation in the parking lot didn’t prove anything, the damn sack sure did. Jack walked up to Lynn and asked a few questions.

  “Did you hear anything?”

  She shook her head. “Not at first. I suppose most of the major damage happened while I was in the shower. Once I got out, I heard several crashing sounds. By the time I wrapped a robe around myself and came outside, whoever did this was gone.”

  “Ransom thinks Dusty Granger might have had something to do with this. Want to tell me what happened?”

  Lynn explained things as succinctly as possible but Ransom knew she left much out. Jack would have no way of knowing that she had a history with Granger. Ransom gave Jack a pointed look then turned to Lynn. “Honey, why don’t you go in and get your things together. I’m taking you out to the ranch.”

  She shook her head. “No! I can’t do that, Ransom. I’ll be fine here tonight and tomorrow I’m just going to rent a car and head on back to Dallas. My vacation is over.”

  “Oh hell no, it’s not. You are staying with me and that’s final. Got that?”

  She smiled a little. “You’re awfully bossy.”

  “Been known to be.”

  “Okay, okay, I’ll stay with you but only until I figure out what to do next.”

  Ransom figured that was as good as he was going to get so he watched Lynn go back into the motel room without saying anything more. He looked at Jack and saw the speculative look on his friend’s face but chose to ignore it. “I don’t think Lynn wants this to be common knowledge but there’s a story behind the bag and the words painted on the side of her car.”

  “You gonna share that with me?”

  “Yeah, now that she’s not here I’ll fill you in. Hopefully it’ll be enough to help you nail Granger’s ass to the wall.”

  “Then I’m all ears.”

  * * * * *

  Ransom left Jack to finish up with Lynn’s car and went to check on Lynn. He knocked twice and when she opened up, he didn’t wait for an invitation but went straight inside. The Lazy Aces hadn’t changed much in the way of room décor in the past ten years or so and he commented on that fact. Ancient landscapes, popular in no-tell motels, hung above each bed and worn gold carpet covered the floors. The air conditioner huffed and clanked just beneath the windows.

  Lynn bent over her suitcase that was tossed upon one of the beds. “You have some experience with these rooms?” Her eyebrow arched as she looked up at him. It told him a lot about her. She handled adversity pretty well if she could pick and tease at him considering everything she’d been through tonight.

  Feeling a little useless at the moment, he stuffed his fingers into the front pocket of his jeans. “Yeah, we threw a few parties here back in the good old days. If the weather wasn’t nice enough to illegally drink beer out by the lake, we’d get someone older to rent us a room.”

  “So you were a bad boy. Now why doesn’t that surprise me?” She moved around the room to collect her shoes from the floor and Ransom’s gaze zeroed in on her mighty fine ass as the short, silky robe inched up a bit, but then she straightened and headed back toward the suitcase. Several pairs fell from her arms onto the floor. “Damn it!”

  Ransom retrieved the shoes and dumped them in the case. Frustration fairly radiated from her. Reaching out, he slid his hands along her arms. “Just settle down. This isn’t the end of the world so just take your time. I’m not in any hurry.”

  She shook her head and looked away. “You’re being awfully sweet to me, Ransom. Give me a minute and I’ll have everything together.”

  “Listen, I’ll just sit over here and stay out of your way.” He took a seat in one of the old standard chairs in the room and watched her packing up her things. She set aside a pair of shorts and a tee shirt along with a pink bra and matching panties that were trimmed with some kind of stretchy-looking lace. The spit dried in his mouth as he imagined her delicious body in those girly things and then he visualized stripping them off her.

  It wasn’t a great turn of thoughts for a man who’d promised not to get involved.

  Finally she stood uncertainly near the foot of the bed. “Um, I’m going to change. I’ll be right back and then we can go.”

  “Take your time.” He watched her go into the bathroom, then, faster than he could say fuck me, baby she was back, holding the short robe in her hand. Dressed for the drive to the ranch, she’d slipped into the shorts and tee shirt. The black shorts were a clingy bit of nothing that emphasized every line and curve of her mighty fine ass and the raspberry-pink tee hugged her torso in all the right spots. With all those rockin’ curves, she looked as though she’d stepped out of the centerfold of a men’s magazine but lest he forget she was intelligent too.

  Brains and beauty, a dangerous combo.

  Ransom shifted in his chair in a dumb attempt to relieve the pressure of his cock swelling painfully inside his jeans, and he knew nothing would help his condition but time and distance.

  That wasn’t happening tonight.

  Once she tossed her robe into the suitcase and zipped it shut, she grabbed the handle and proceeded to lug it onto the floor. “I’m ready.”

  “Here, let me get that.” Eager to think of anything besides his aching dick, he grabbed the suitcase and together they headed to his truck. Soon he was driving farther into the countryside as he made the four-mile trip to the ranch.

  An uncomfortable silence fell between them as he wondered what had possessed him to get involved in this mess. The cab of his truck smelled of soap and shampoo and all kinds of gir
ly things he’d long ago figured were a part of his past that he’d never relive again. He glanced at her. Dashboard lights illuminated her pretty face and when she looked at him, her dark eyes swam with emotion. Suddenly he knew exactly why he’d gotten involved. Lynn Halstead was hot, sweet, sexy, and he wanted to fuck her more than he wanted his next breath.

  It was as simple as that.

  Chapter Four

  The next morning Lynn opened her eyes, disoriented until recalling the whole mess from last night. It unfolded in her mind and she knew it hadn’t been a bad dream but terribly real. She’d been saved by Ransom Dobbs, who was still as heroic as she remembered, but instead of riding in on a white horse to save her…he’d been driving a truck. Looking around the room, clutching crisp white sheets beneath her chin, she took in the guest room. Slats on the pale-wood plantation shutters were closed tight but she could see well enough to make out a comfy wingback chair complete with a heavy ottoman sitting in one corner. Dark-blue solid pillows and pale ones featuring splashy-looking bluebonnets nestled in the seat of the chair, the only color against the white upholstery. A huge painting of a field of bluebonnets hung above a creamy chest along one wall and a full-length old-fashioned mirror dominated a corner. Across the room was an open door that led into the bathroom.

  Lynn dragged her hand over the whisper-soft cotton of a white comforter and when she peered at the foot of the bed, she noted a floral throw in shades of blue folded neatly over the swath of white. The scent of lavender washed the room, soothing her and reminding her of her own little condo in Dallas. She was partial to the fragrance and habitually set colorful bowls filled with potpourri throughout her place. Yes, the room smelled and felt like home and was so lovely that she regretted not realizing it last night. It was a sad fact that she’d been too rattled to notice much of anything except for Ransom

  Ransom.

  Amid all the chaos of the evening, the one bright spot had been talking to him, catching up and yes…kissing him. Her lips burned every time she thought of the way he’d taken her lips as if he were a starving man. It was odd that a man who was so big, tough and silent held such heat inside him, and she couldn’t help wondering about other secrets he might keep hidden. But Lynn knew a wounded man when she saw one. He’d regretted kissing her and touching her. He had made that appallingly clear. If Lynn had one ounce of pride, she’d catch a ride into town and make arrangements for a car to take her straight back to Dallas.

  Facts were facts though. She didn’t want to leave. Maybe it was because she was still coming to grips with nagging shit from her past and Ransom played such a central part in it. She couldn’t remember the horrible stuff without also recalling the best; a weird dichotomy, for sure. Intellectually she knew that those crazy, awful and wonderful teen years were a combination of all of those things—the painful and the exhilarating—but, at least for her, they’d been bad enough to haunt her into her adult years.

  Since then, she’d taken complete charge of her life and had worked hard as hell to achieve her dreams. Why she felt compelled to put herself through this trip down memory lane was baffling.

  Determined to see what the day held for her, Lynn glanced at a clock on the bedside table and her eyes widened. She hadn’t slept until nine in years, preferring to get up with the chickens, but the turmoil of the past evening must have messed with her internal clock. Slinging her legs from the bed, she headed for the bathroom. Like the bedroom, it was done in shades of blue and creamy white. A garden tub featured fat candles, a basket of bubble baths and sponges and a stack of fluffy white towels. A large, glass-walled shower stood nearby. After taking care of immediate business, she went back into the bedroom and opened the shutters. The window provided a great view of the barns and paddock of the fabulous Double D Ranch.

  Several horses pranced in the corral along with a young mare and her newborn foal. Lynn’s heart warmed instantly at the sight. She had a thing for babies. Any young creature won her immediate, intense devotion and perhaps that was why, after careful consideration, she’d opened a pediatric practice. She wanted to see that tiny foal up close and personal. She wanted to touch it and feel its breath against the palm of her hand. Infused with the need to explore her surroundings, she raced back into the bathroom to get ready for the day.

  Roughly forty-five minutes later, she headed downstairs. The scent of bacon lingered in the air and, following her nose, she made her way toward the back of the house and into the kitchen. A plate of scrambled eggs and bacon sat just below the microwave oven. Ranchers tended to start work early so it was a pretty safe bet that Ransom had eaten hours ago yet had thoughtfully fixed a plate for her. While her breakfast heated in the microwave, she made a fresh pot of coffee and before long she was seated at a heavy oak table. It was old and scarred and no doubt the Dobbs boys had spent many hours sitting here having dinner, doing homework, arguing or laughing. That was life and there was something so wholesome about that image that the scars on the old table seemed priceless. It was their history.

  No wonder Ransom kept it.

  However, there was nothing remotely old-fashioned about this kitchen. Bronze granite countertops set off the walnut cabinets to perfection and stainless-steel appliances gleamed. A pendulum chandelier hung over the center island cooktop, a masterpiece of curved bronze and iron.

  As a girl, she’d loved this ranch house, a Victorian that was so well-kept it seemed like something from a fairy tale. This was her first time inside the place so she planned to tour it while Ransom was busy. She just couldn’t let the opportunity pass.

  After breakfast, she washed her plate and silverware and placed everything in the dishwasher before heading outside. Curiosity about Ransom’s whereabouts overtook her need to wander around the house, so she stepped through the double-wide French doors and onto a huge flagstone patio. A lanai of gray aged wood stretched over the patio floor, providing partial shade from the hot Texas sunshine and in the distance she spotted a pristine pool. Giant urns that held blood-red geraniums and yellow and pink hibiscus were placed in various spots along the floor and thick, heavy jasmine climbed over a half-wall near a massive barbecue grill. Stone tables and benches occupied a spot nearby and Lynn could only imagine the family barbecues that Ransom, his brothers and their ladies enjoyed here. A vivid picture bloomed in her mind and once again she was that fanciful, dreamy girl she’d been so many years ago.

  Sighing a little, she walked the area and then, putting her hands above her eyes to shield them from the bright sunshine, she looked across the way toward the barns and corrals. She didn’t know much about ranches and ranching but from what she could tell Ransom ran a pretty big operation. Beeves dotted rolling emerald pastureland as far as the eye could see and at least fifteen pickup trucks were parked willy-nilly near the barn. He must have hired at least that many cowboys to work this place.

  Thankful she’d packed jeans and boots, she walked across an expanse of asphalt and made her way to the corral. Several cowboys were there working with the horses but her focus skipped over them and went straight to the chestnut mare and her foal. Moving closer, smiling as the tiny animal nursed from his mother, Lynn hooked the heel of her boot on a low rung of the corral fencing.

  Lost in the view, she jumped a little when Ransom moved up to stand beside her and lean his arms against the rail. “Handsome fella, isn’t he?”

  “Yes, he’s beautiful.”

  “His name is Little Britches and his mom is Sadie.”

  She glanced at Ransom and caught her breath. The brim of his summer straw cowboy hat shaded his eyes, making the gray seem all the more intense. Ransom was a real rugged westerner, comfortable in his skin. This was his world. Not The Dillo with its crowds and loud music. Not a city like Dallas. A man like Ransom would wither and die in a big city. He was a lucky man to find a place where he belonged.

  “You’re really happy here, aren’t you? You love this life.”

  “I always have. I’m not a fancy man, Lynn.�
� He turned his head and looked at her, those eyes focusing like a laser. “How about you? Does Dallas suit you?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t know. I love my work but I could do it anywhere. It just seemed that getting lost in a city was the thing to do at the time so I bought a house, opened a practice and the rest is history.”

  “And why would a fine woman like you need to get lost? I find that pretty strange.”

  “What do you mean, a woman like me?”

  He turned to face her more fully. “You’re smart and funny, classy as hell. Seems to me you’d fit just about anywhere. I envy that.”

  Lynn laughed and rolled her eyes. “Envy me? Lordy, you are so full of it, Ransom Dobbs. Don’t forget you knew me as a girl. I couldn’t have possibly been more awkward. Truthfully? I don’t think I’ve ever quite fit in anywhere.”

  “I think it’s way past time you let go of the past and move on. Nobody stays the same. We get a beginning somewhere and for some reason, but eventually we grow into our skin and find ourselves.”

  “And have you moved on?”

  His expression closed down and she knew she’d said the wrong thing. The answer to her question was painfully clear. No, he hadn’t moved on. He was a man who felt things deeply and believed he’d lost his chance at love when Cassie had died. That was why he’d pulled away so quickly after that hot kiss in the parking lot of the Electric Armadillo.

  Ransom was afraid.

  Yeah, she knew a little bit about fear.

  “Forget I even asked that. It’s none of my business.” She stepped back from the corral fence and turned to walk away but he caught her arm.

  “Don’t run off. Let me show you around, if you want to see the ranch, that is.”

  She faced him and nodded. “Sure. I’d love nothing better.”

  He released her and held up a finger. “Stay right here. I’ll be back.”

  Wondering what he was up to, she watched Ransom walk into the barn, then took another moment to watch the foal run in clumsy circles around his beautiful mother. In a moment or two, Ransom came through the doors leading a big black horse and carrying a battered straw cowboy hat in his hand. Another cowboy, who’d obviously been working in the barn, led a chestnut mare. This one wore a blaze of white between her eyes.