Badge and a Saddle (Heroes in the Saddle Book 2) (4 page)

“Good plan. See
you in a few.” Treven ended the call, and Rex contacted Clint, then stepped
back into the house. The decadent smell of bacon cooking made his belly rumble.

In the kitchen,
Mina stood at the stove, pans of hash browns, bacon, and eggs giving off steam.
She turned at the sound of his footsteps. “Hi. Mr. Cader was kind—”

“Bennet.” The old
guy sat at the table, smiling wide. Doctor Mina had evidently charmed him, too.

Too?
What
was he thinking? The woman was
not
doing anything like charming Rex.
Hell, no.

She smiled at
Bennet. “Sorry.
Bennet
okayed my making breakfast for all of us, as long
as I made bacon, too.”

Rex nodded. She
was a vegetarian, but the old sheriff had talked her into cooking pork? Shit,
maybe Bennet had done the charming here. He sat at the table. “Doctor, I called
my chief.”

The spatula dropped
out of her hand, landing on the potatoes. She turned, her brows dropping. “Why?
We can’t trust anyone.”

Rex held up a
hand. “This man, I trust. He understands the situation and is covering for me,
handling things with the governor’s office, and wants us to stay put.” He
looked at Bennet. “If that’s all right with you.”

“Hell, yeah.” He
tipped his head to Mina. “Excuse the language, ma’am.” He sat back and sipped
his coffee. “You own the place, how can I kick you out?”

Rex caught Mina’s puzzled
look, but wasn’t ready to explain that whole dynamic.

“You got something
else, son?” Bennet watched Rex’s face.

“Yeah. Treven and
Clint will be here this afternoon.”

Mina turned to
face him fully. “Detective, how many people have you told about me?”

Rex stood and
walked to the stove, picked up the sizzling pan of bacon, and brought it to the
sink, straining off the fat into a tin can. “Just people I trust.” He gestured
to the stove. “Now get those eggs off before they turn black.”

They made three
plates of food, added a basket of biscuits, and sat at the table, Mina with
tea, the men with cups of strong, black coffee.

“Bennet, here,
he’s a long-time lawman. Sheriff for a couple decades. My friends who’re coming
this afternoon? I’ve known them since we were kids, and trust them with my
life.” He looked deep into Mina’s pretty blue eyes. “And with your life.” The
men detailed the plan they’d devised to keep her safe—keep everyone on the
ranch safe—from any unlikely attack.

Rex watched Mina’s
face grow less tense, her body relaxing as he went over dozens of scenarios and
how they would handle them, including hiding her in the root cellar, which was
their term for the secret space under the floor in Bennet’s bedroom, concealed
by a rug. Her brows shot up at that, and she looked at Bennet.

“A man can’t be
too careful.” Bennet winked at her, then his brows dropped. “Rex is a man I’d
trust with my life. Me? I may look used up, but I’m still the best shot in the
county, despite the years I’ve spent in retirement.” He wrapped a hand around
his coffee cup. “We’ll do everything to keep you safe, Mina. Swear on a Bible.”

The doctor blinked
a few times, then glanced at Rex. “I appreciate that, and I’m honored that you
both are willing to do this for me.”

Rex wanted to
comfort her, to reassure her that nothing would happen, but despite everything
in place back at their office in Fort Worth, something could slip between the
cracks and come pouring down on their heads.

He liked her,
valued her bravery and tenacity, but had to keep her sharp, and ready for
anything.

He pointed to her
plate of eggs and potatoes. “Now eat up, and I’ll show you where you can get
some rest.”

She nodded. “I’m
sorry I overreacted. I’ve put my life in your hands, and I need to trust that I
chose wisely, that you are taking this seriously, and would not jeopardize my
safety by involving anyone untrustworthy.” She reached out and laid her hand on
his forearm. “Thank you.”

The touch sent tremors
of awareness through him, like pings of a sonar reverberating through him. He
eased his arm out from under her palm. “Ma’am, I’ll do my best.”

He glanced at Bennet,
who had that smarmy grin on his face again.

Rex narrowed his
eyes. “Eat.” He pointed to the man’s plate. “Everyone, just eat.”

****

Mina’s hand burned
from touching Rex. The cop did something to her, and it wasn’t at all
unpleasant. If circumstances were different… Crap, who was she fooling? She
barely made time for friends in her busy schedule, much less men. Her job kept
her occupied year-round, and she liked it that way.

The men she’d made
space for in her life had disappointed her so badly, she could only feel aversion
when guys approached her for a date. But not Rex. He was hot and serious, and
even more smart and sexy. They would be stuck here on the ranch for at least
three days, and longer, if the suspects in the video weren’t identified and
caught.

She looked out the
window. The cloudless blue sky and bright sunshine came as the best gift she’d
ever received. Living one minute at a time had been her motto for the last five
days, and if she were to be completely honest with herself, she may not live to
see another night sky.

Things could go
really bad now that his captain had been brought into this, but if Rex said he
trusted the man, she had to rely on his instincts. He and Bennet were preparing
for the worst, and that gave her hope, more than anything else. The thought of
being banished to a dark, musty room under the floor…that was not appealing,
but she’d go down into it if they asked her to.

She picked at her
food for a few seconds, then started eating. She needed her strength to face
whatever was coming their way, even if it was just being vigilant and prepared
for anything.

Next to her, Rex
ate slowly, his manners impeccable. As if he’d been raised with a great deal of
care and respect. He was funny, smart, and serious about his responsibilities.
Mina sighed. The forecast for her life expectancy had changed for the better
when she’d chosen to place herself in Detective Rex Tarrow’s capable hands.

Mina, Rex, and
Bennet watched the video she’d taken of the shooting. The faces of the men were
much clearer on the large screen, but it would take a digital specialist to
make them fully recognizable.

They discussed it,
Bennet asking insightful questions, and Rex recording everything they said.

She answered the
questions honestly, skirting the ones about her having any knowledge of the
identities of the men and why she’d chosen that spot to use her telescope. As
soon as they heard that the shooters had been identified, she’d tell Rex
everything, and explain why she’d withheld information. Information that could
make this case a lot easier to solve.

After the men ran
out of questions, Rex took her upstairs, where four big bedrooms sat fully
furnished, the beds made. “Bennet has no family?” She whispered the words to
Rex.

He paused a moment.
“Blood family, not worth talking about.”

“Blood family?”
She didn’t understand why he’d said it that way.

He pointed down
the hall. “The bathroom has new toothbrushes and stuff. I’ll be across the
hall.” Rex stepped into a room. “Yell if you need anything.” He swung the door,
putting a barrier between them, but leaving it open a foot or so.

“Thanks.” He must
come here often. She set down her bag and went to scrape a morning’s worth of
yuck off her teeth.

****

Two hours later,
Mina woke in her bed upstairs, startled awake by the dream she’d been having.
Running, running, panting, sweating, fear. Her heart raced like wild horses
across the prairie.

Mumbling sounded
from across the hall. Was Rex on the phone?

The sound of a
motor came from somewhere. She sat upright, listening. Did he hear it, too?

As silently as
possible on the old hardwood floors, she made her way to his room and pushed
open the door.

Rex lay on his
back, fully clothed except for no boots on his stocking feet. His eyes were
closed, and he jerked a couple of times then went silent. Was he having a
nightmare, too?

She listened
again, no longer hearing the motor.

He’d left the
shade up on the window, and she tiptoed over to look outside. Nothing. No
movement, no sound. Turning toward Rex, she noticed a scar on his hairline by
his temple. His skin looked a shade of tan, almost a honey color. It didn’t
look like he’d been tanning, either. What nationality was he? She had a lot of
questions for him, after talking with Bennet.

Rex had told her
Bennet was his ex-father-in-law, but hadn’t shared anything else, and there was
no way she would be able to out-fox a sheriff for information, so that avenue
was closed.

His hands jerked
and fisted, then he went still again.

How should she
wake him? Mina crept toward the bed and eased onto the mattress. It barely
moved with her weight.

“What are you
doing?” Rex’s voice came out gravelly.

“I’m…I heard a
noise. A motor.”

He grunted and
moved closer to the far edge of the bed, away from her. “Bennet is on his
four-wheeler. He’s got a shotgun and a pistol with him.”

The screen door
downstairs slapped shut and the sounds of Bennet wheeling his walker through
the kitchen reached them.

Relief washed
through her. “But what if he’s been compromised, took money to turn me in?” She
smiled at the unlikely scenario.

Rex angled up,
resting on his bent arm. His dark eyes looked sleepy as he stared at her. “You
think we wouldn’t hear him clomping up the steps with that walker?”

She giggled,
actually giggled, at the visual. “You’re saying I’m being paranoid?”

He looked too
serious. “Sorry, Doctor. I’m not makin’ light of your worries. Not after all
you’ve been through. But I’ve known Bennet since I was—”

Something shimmied
soft and warm inside her. She was in bed with the hottest, most capable man
she’d ever met. Her hero. And she liked him. His lips kept moving, voicing the
reasons why she could trust both of them, as well as his captain and his two
neighbors. The words flowed over her, his voice low and sexy with intimacy.

Intimacy? How had
her mind slid to that tempting topic? Would he be offended if she suggested
they spend their time on the ranch…together? Like,
extremely
close
together?

“Mina?” He waited,
watching her closely.

Had he asked her
something? Or was he keying in to her mood? Her breath came faster, her eyes
felt heavy-lidded as she imagined being in his arms, held tight by those strong
muscles of his, kissed by his firm lips. She wiggled a little. Would he push
her down into the mattress, taking top position? Or would he pull her on top of
him, letting her ride him?

Deep in her belly,
warmth spread, encompassing her core, swelling in her breasts until her nipples
tingled and tightened.

His gaze dropped
to her chest for just a second, then locked with her eyes, a little wrinkle
forming between his brows.

Rex was the type
of man she would wander up to in a bar, or smile at in a coffee shop, or get
closer to at a college football game, even without knowing his personality. But
add his exceptionally brave and intelligent persona to the mix, and he was
suddenly a man she’d want to spend a lot more time with.

Was she being
reactionary, wanting to grab onto him and flirt her way into his embrace? Or
was this something real and important, something she should not let slip
through her fingers?

There was only one
way to find out. She took a deep breath.

Mina pushed up on
one arm, wrapped her hand around Rex’s strong, thick neck, and pressed her lips
against his. He froze for a second, but she used her lips on his like a caress,
softly tasting with her tongue and moaning with the warmth of desire that made
her a little woozy.

The bed dipped and
he wrapped his arm around her waist, turning her so she lay on her back, throwing
his hard, heavy leg over hers. “You sure?” He didn’t wait for an answer before
moving in and kissing her, his lips firm, encompassing all of hers, molding her
to fit his, then his tongue drew a line between her lips.

“I’m sure.” She
squealed as her belly tightened and her breasts tickled with need. She hadn’t
felt this kind of physical attraction since… Since never. This was spicy and
new and wild as the edge of the universe.

“Mina.” The
whisper from his lips blew into her mouth like a prayer. He ran his tongue
along hers, slowly and reverently. Then he stroked with exuberance and speed
that literally sucked her breath away. “Doc, you taste like pure heaven.”

Glad she’d brushed
and used mouthwash, she groaned back, “You taste like pure indulgence.” That
kiss confirmed a strong physical connection on top of the emotional one she was
already experiencing.

He backed away,
his gaze searching hers, then he pulled his hand from her and rolled off the
bed like it had caught on fire. He looked over his shoulder at her.

The room grew
cooler, suddenly. Why was he standing there? Hadn’t he felt the same, amazing
moment between them?

“Rex.” She
shouldn’t have used the word indulgence. It sounded so…guilty. “We’re both
adults, we’re consenting. Neither of us is involved with…” She sat up, icy
cold, now, with the direction of her thoughts. “You’re not married, or engaged,
or dating someone, right?”

He shook his head.
“No, but this
indulgence
is not a good idea. You’re under my watch, and
I’m sworn to protect you.”

She took hope from
the fact he was still in the room. “What if we just close the door and pretend
we’re two people who feel attracted to each other, and want to spend a few days
exploring that magnetism?” That sounded reasonable, right? And not
too…desperate?

“Who says I’m
attracted to you?” He rubbed his forehead. “Mina…Doctor, I can’t just pretend
I’m not on the clock. Please, just…go back to your room.”

She had never been
the type to chase a man who didn’t want to be caught, and especially not a
woman to try to lure one into bed when he was unwilling, but things were
different today, and probably would be for the rest of her life—however long
that ended up being. Somehow, the combination of her tenuous situation and
Rex’s perfect body and mind, plus his remarkable character, had unleashed
something inside her. Like super powers she’d bottled up all her adult life,
and now wanted to let loose on the world.

She took a breath
and worked up her courage. “I want to be in your bed, Rex.” She let her voice
drop low and sexy as she could manage.

He didn’t move for
long seconds.

Was he trying to
decide? Trying to overcome his overzealous sense of duty and give in to the
needs of the man behind the badge? “Fine.” He grabbed his gun, wallet, and
boots. “You can have it.” He walked out of the room, then down the stairs.

Her mouth dropped
open. Staring at the doorway, she could only blink. How had she mucked that up so
badly? Sexual super powers? Not quite. Rolling out of the warm bed, she tiptoed
out the door and down the hall to the top of the steps.

“…because you need
to explain what that means,
she chased you out
.” Bennet’s voice sounded
over his television program.

“Just watch your
gameshow, old man. Let me get some goddamn sleep.” Rex must be stretched out on
the couch.

The volume of the
TV decreased and Bennet chuckled softly.

She trudged back
to her assigned room and willed herself to fall asleep as she focused on making
her dreams feature a dark-eyed lover who would have her writhing and popping
like fireworks in a starless sky.