A Lawman in Her Stocking (7 page)

“Everyone choose a painting partner,” Brenna in
structed the eager women. “While one of you works on the front of the hydrant, the other should work on the back.”

Brenna watched the ladies of the Tranquillity Beautification Society set to work with more enthusiasm than expertise, turning ordinary fire hydrants into works of Christmas art. After making sure everything was going smoothly, she picked up her own paint kit and headed for the hydrant in front of Dylan’s office.

She worked quickly and, in no time, had the details roughed in. Her eyes held an impish gleam as she used the liner brush to add the finishing touches. It was an absolute shame she couldn’t put a red fur Santa’s hat on the little guy, instead of having to paint one on.

“Dear, you’ve done an excellent job of capturing Dylan’s likeness.” Cornelia pushed a strand of blue-gray hair from her eyes as she peered at Brenna’s work, then glanced at the door of the Sheriff’s office. “By the way, where is Dylan? Shouldn’t he be on duty?”

“He’s gone up into the mountains to help search for a couple of lost hikers,” Brenna answered. She finished painting a silver star on the chest of the Santa Claus hydrant. “He probably won’t be back until late this afternoon or evening. But Jason is in charge if you need something.”

“No.” Lowering her voice for privacy, Cornelia asked, “Has Dylan mentioned what he thinks of the Beautification Society’s plans to decorate Main Street for the Jamboree?”

The tone in the older woman’s voice caused Brenna
to glance up from her work. Seeing the woman’s grave expression, Brenna rose to face her.

“He knows the Society have some improvements planned, but I haven’t shared any of the details. Why?”

“I just wondered.” Cornelia heaved a sigh. “Last night, Myron almost suffered apoplexy when I told him that the first phase would begin today.”

Brenna smiled as she gazed down at the hydrant she’d just finished painting. “I’m sure he’ll calm down when he sees how cute these little guys are. How could anyone not be charmed by fire hydrants painted to look like some of Tranquillity’s most prominent citizens dressed up in Santa suits?”

Dylan steered his truck around the last curve on the road leading into Tranquillity. He was tired, his muscles ached and his mood had improved little since leaving the ranger station. He hated it when people who had no previous hiking experience, decided to test themselves on the trails in the Davis Mountains. Fortunately, the two lost hikers had been found, and although they’d been scared half out of their minds from spending a night on the side of a mountain without shelter, neither had suffered serious injury during their ordeal.

His thoughts on the teenage boys he’d helped find earlier in the afternoon, it took a few seconds for his mind to register what his eyes were seeing. He stomped on the brake to bring his truck to a crawl and stared openmouthed as he slowly drove down Main Street. Instead of plain red fire hydrants, a short,
squatty, brightly painted Santa Claus stood on every corner.

He swore a blue streak. They had to be the most ridiculous-looking things he’d ever seen. They even beat that cheap toupee old Corny insisted Myron wear to Luke’s every Saturday night.

Pulling into his reserved parking space in front of the sheriff’s office, Dylan paid little attention to the Santa hydrant standing guard in front of the building. In a rush to find out what was going on, his leg bumped into it as he walked past and he instinctively reached down to rub his knee. His fingers stuck slightly and when he glanced, first at his hand, then at the red paint on his jeans, he rattled off a word that would have gotten his mouth washed out with soap if his mother had been alive to hear him.

“Jason, what the hell happened out there?” he bellowed as he shoved open the office door.

Startled out of his nap, the wide-eyed young man almost fell off the chair he had tipped back against the wall behind the desk. Jumping to his feet, he placed his hand on his service revolver. “Where’s the disturbance? Should I call the auxiliary for backup?”

“No, dammit,” Dylan said impatiently. He jerked his thumb toward the street. “What happened out there today with the fire hydrants?”

Jason visibly relaxed. “Did you notice the likeness?” he asked, his grin wide.

“Likeness?”

“This is gonna be priceless,” Jason said, laughing as he rounded the desk. He motioned for Dylan to follow him.

“Dammit, Jason, I’m not playing games,” Dylan growled. But he followed his deputy outside.

Choking on his laughter, Jason pointed to the hydrant Dylan had run into only moments before. “Look like anybody you know?”

Dylan walked around to the front of the hydrant. There stood a two-foot miniature of himself in a Santa suit, complete with green eyes and a star painted on his chest, grinning back at him.

“The B.S. Club kicked off the first phase of their Main Street Project today,” Jason said. He shook his head. “First time I ever remember them doing anything, besides sitting around and swapping the latest gossip.”

Dylan’s left eyebrow twitched rapidly and his stomach clenched into a painful knot at the mention of the B.S. Club. Brenna had been head of the committee responsible for the fire hydrants. When the women finally stopped talking and actually started doing something, everything suddenly got a lot more complicated than it had ever been in the past.

“Has Myron called yet?” he asked. Dylan could just imagine the conniption the mayor had gone into when he found out about the hydrants.

“Nope.” Jason chuckled. “But he’s the only council member who hasn’t.”

Dylan’s stomach churned like a cement mixer as he walked back into the office. “I’ll call Myron, while you call Ed and Luke. Tell them I want to see them here in the office first thing Monday morning. No excuses.”

“Won’t you see them tonight over at Luke’s?” Ja
son asked as he picked up the phone. “You could set up the meeting then.”

Dylan shook his head when he thought of all the complaints he’d be getting from the men. “I’m not going to Luke’s this evening. I’m not in a very sociable mood.”

Two hours later, standing on Brenna’s newly repaired porch, Dylan felt as if the sun had risen on a new day when she opened the door. Her smile, the sparkle of happiness in her eyes, made his heart race. She was genuinely glad to see him.

Reaching for her, he pulled her into his arms. “Do you mind staying here instead of going to Luke’s this evening?”

“No. I don’t mind at all.” She looked concerned. “Is everything all right?”

Not by a long shot.
“Yeah,” he lied, shrugging out of his leather jacket. “Everything’s fine. I’m just a little tired, that’s all.”

“Me, too.” She hung his jacket and Resistol on the coatrack, then turned to wind her arms around his neck. She gazed up at him with a satisfied smile. “I helped paint—”

Dylan immediately fused his lips to hers. He didn’t need to be told what she’d been up to. He’d seen the fruits of her labor firsthand and wanted to avoid having to make a comment.

He kissed her thoroughly, then lifted his head to gaze down into her startled eyes. “I’ve missed you.”

“Pete, I don’t know if we should go to Luke’s or not. Looks like there’s going to be plenty of action right here tonight.”

Dylan looked up to see Abigail’s approving grin as she and Pete strolled into the room.

“Yeah, but it’s gonna be
their
action, sugar.” Pete kissed Abigail’s cheek. “I want some of our own. Now, let’s get goin’.”

Dylan watched Abigail’s cheeks turn pink. He’d bet she didn’t blush very often. “Have a good time,” he said, biting back a grin.

Abigail winked at him. “We’d wish you the same thing, but it’s obvious you will.”

“We’re takin’ your Chevy, Dylan,” Pete said, hustling Abigail toward the door. “Since Brenna’s car is back from the body shop, you’ve got hers if you change your mind about comin’ over to the dance.” When he passed Dylan, Pete lowered his voice. “We’ll be back around midnight. But if we decide to come home earlier, I’ll call first.”

Dylan laughed. “I’d appreciate that, Uncle Pete.”

When Pete and Abigail closed the door behind them, Dylan placed his arm around Brenna’s shoulders and steered her toward the couch. “You don’t mind staying here to watch a movie?”

She shook her head. “Actually, I’m rather glad. I’m pretty tired from helping the Beautification Society paint the fire hydrants today.”

Dylan’s eyebrow started to twitch as he sat down. He had a sinking feeling he knew what was coming next.

“By the way, did you notice them when you got back this afternoon?” she asked, settling herself beside him.

Well, there it was. The question he’d wanted to avoid as long as possible. He had a sneaking suspi
cion that if he told her what he really thought of them, she’d never speak to him again. But his conscience wouldn’t allow him to lie to her either.

Uncomfortable with the whole situation, he cleared his throat. “Uh…yeah, I saw them when I drove through town.”

“Well, what do you think?” she asked, smiling eagerly. “Aren’t they unique?”

So’s a longhorn steer, but I don’t want one of them on Main Street, either.

“They’re definitely different,” he said evasively. He jumped to his feet. “Do you have some popcorn? We can’t watch a movie without popcorn.”

Clearly confused that he’d changed the subject so fast, Brenna nodded as she rose from the couch. “Sure. Why don’t you come in and talk to me while I put it into the microwave?”

Happy to be off the hook for the moment, Dylan teased. “Are you sure it won’t catch fire?”

She made a face at him as they entered the kitchen. “Unless the microwave malfunctions, you should be safe.” Placing the bag inside, she set the timer. “You never did say what you thought of the fire hydrants.”

Dylan felt the twitch over his left eye go completely berserk. He should’ve known better than to think Brenna would be content with the noncommittal answer he’d given her. And her hopeful expression made him feel like a heel. It would take a blind man or a fool not to see how enthusiastic she was over the damnable things.

He gave her a sideways glance. He couldn’t bring himself to tell her he thought they were uglier than a
day old vulture, so he hedged, “I hadn’t given them much thought.”

“How silly of me. Of course, you haven’t. You were searching for those two boys lost up in the mountains.” She made him feel worse when she gave him an understanding smile as she removed the popcorn from the microwave and emptied it into a bowl. “I heard they found them safe and sound this afternoon.”

He nodded. “They were both scared spitless from being out there on the trail all night, and hungry as hell, but none the worse for wear.”

“I’m sure that was frightening for you, too,” she said, her voice filled with compassion. “Not knowing if you’d find them hurt, or worse, had to have given you several anxious moments.”

His spirits sank lower. Her compassion made him feel like a low-down, double-dealing snake, even though he hadn’t done anything wrong. But not wanting to tell her how ridiculous those hydrants looked made him feel as if he had—or was about to.

He had to move. The more understanding Brenna became, the worse he felt. Grabbing the bowl, he spun around and left the room. “Come on, we’ll miss the beginning of the movie.”

Brenna stared in stunned silence as Dylan made a hasty retreat. Something wasn’t right, and she had every intention of finding out what it was.

“Dylan, what’s going on?” she demanded, following him into the living room. “You’ve acted strange ever since I mentioned the fire hydrants.”

When he turned to face her, she could have sworn he winced. But just as quickly as the expression ap
peared, it vanished. “What makes you think something’s going on?”

She might have been slow to catch on, but she had a good idea what bothered him. “Your mood has nothing to do with being tired, or with finding those two lost teenagers, does it?” Walking up to him, she laid her hand on his arm. “Why don’t you just come out and tell me you don’t like the Santa Claus hydrants?”

He sank down on the couch, leaned his head back and closed his eyes. “I didn’t want to hurt your feelings.”

“Since when has the truth ever been more hurtful than a lie?” she asked, planting her hands on her hips. “Now, tell me what you really think of them.”

She watched him open first one eye, then the other to peer up at her. Taking a deep breath, he cringed. “To tell you the truth, I think they’re tacky as hell.”

“Now, that didn’t hurt, did it?” she asked, seating herself beside him on the couch.

“You’re not upset?” He looked and sounded incredulous.

“No.” She reached down and picked up a kernel of popcorn from the bowl he held, then placed it to his lips. “You’ll get used to them. Besides, they won’t be so out of place when the second phase of the project is completed.”

He placed the bowl of popcorn on the end table, then rubbing at his left eyebrow, asked, “There’s a second phase?”

Brenna nodded. “We plan on—”

But before she could tell him about the next step in the Beautification Society’s plans to decorate for
the Christmas season, Dylan pulled her onto his lap, brought his mouth down on hers and kissed her with a passion that took her breath away.

Her eyes drifted shut and Brenna felt as if the world spun out of control as Dylan slid his tongue across her lips, once, twice, then slipped between them to trace the inner recesses of her mouth. Playing a game of advance and retreat, he coaxed her into following his lead and when she slipped between his lips, to learn the taste of him, a feminine power she’d never felt before swept through her. All thoughts of Santa Claus fire hydrants, Main Street and the town of Tranquillity faded to nothingness when his groan of pleasure vibrated against her mouth.

Encouraged by his reaction, she tangled her hands in his thick hair as she lost herself in the moment. Sparkles of light danced behind her eyelids, but the thrill of kissing him once again was nothing compared to the feel of his hands on her body as he slid his palms beneath her sweater to stroke the sensitive skin across her rib cage. At the feel of his hard arousal against her bottom, shivers of excitement coursed through her and headed straight for the pit of her belly.