“You’re safe; he isn’t even looking this way,” Steel asserted. He took her hand and led her back to the dance floor. The band had just started a slow song, and he drew her in close. Steel was wearing a black Stetson, and he kept his head bent to obscure his face from most people’s view. A glance told her Eric was still occupied. Like Steel said, he hadn’t even noticed she was gone.
“Wearing a hat indoors?” she teased him. “Bad form.”
“Couldn’t care less,” he said, his low voice thrumming through her. “Couldn’t miss my chance to be with you.”
“I really shouldn’t.” But she didn’t pull away. Steel kept his arms around her.
“It’s just a dance, not a commitment. Although maybe someday…” He let the sentence trail off, but the whisper of his breath against her neck made her shiver.
“I’m not going to be with a criminal,” she made herself say. She knew how Steel’s touch could make her lose all sense. “I’m going to be a deputy, after all.”
“I remember. Have you been training for your test?”
“A little. Not as much as I’d like,” she admitted. “I’ve been running every morning.”
“That’s good. The real challenge is the obstacles, though.”
“What do you know about deputy training?”
“Nothing.” Steel looked away. “I was kind of into track and field in school, that’s all.”
He looked like she’d caught him off-balance, which was new. Steel was always so self-assured. Was he embarrassed about having extracurricular activities? Maybe he figured being seen participating in anything didn’t fit with his bad boy persona.
“Anyway, I trained a bit with obstacles. Mostly low hurdles and steps,” he continued.
Stella nodded. That was most of what she would have to contend with during her test.
“The obstacles themselves aren’t hard to get over, but you’d be surprised how they destroy your momentum if you’re not used to them, which wrecks your time. You have to practice; there’s no substitute.”
“I thought so,” Stella said, feeling vindicated. “I wanted to set up something like that at my ranch, but—” But Eric hadn’t been any help. “I guess I haven’t found the time.”
“Make the time—you’ve got to go after what you want.”
And then he kissed her.
His mouth moving over hers elicited a wave of desire so strong Stella found herself clinging to him, her fingers twisting in the white cotton of his shirt. It went on and on, but each passing moment only increased her desire rather than slaking it.
She wanted more.
When he snuggled her in a little closer, something kindled deep inside her. This night could get a whole lot more fun if she was going home with Steel—
“Hell,” Steel said, peering out from under his hat. “We’ve got company. Gotta go.” He snatched one last kiss. “By the way, heard you stole Olivia’s idea for a teen detox program. Who’s the criminal now?”
And he was gone.
“Who the hell was that?” Eric demanded when he reached her.
“No one,” Stella said.
She had the feeling Eric meant to make a thing of it, but his phone shrilled loudly, and he reached to pull it out. When his expression changed, she nearly laughed.
“Damn it. Deputy business. Gotta go.” Eric looked up. “See? You’d hate this line of work. Always getting interrupted just when you’re having fun.” He stole a kiss even though Stella tried to pull back. “See you tomorrow.”
That was two men gone—and it wasn’t even ten. Some Friday night.
Time to get herself home as well, Stella figured.
Chapter Five
What was he playing at?
It was past midnight when Steel made for home. He’d stopped for a burger, then driven out to Thorn Hill to spy on his family’s home before finally turning his truck toward Silver Falls, taking the long way there. The last thing he wanted to do was spend another night alone in his damn trailer.
As he drove through the rain, Steel kicked himself for dancing with Stella in public like that. Now he was hot and bothered, and he knew he’d struggle to sleep later. He could still feel her mouth under his, the curve of her hips under his hands. He wanted to undress Stella. To spend the night exploring her body.
He’d always struggled with impulse control, and there were times he figured he understood exactly why his father had run so close to the law so much of his life. Dale must have had the same kind of struggles. Possibly worse ones. He shouldn’t even have come to town.
He’d driven around Silver Falls earlier this evening looking for Sue or Lily or Lara, determined to get more answers about their relationship to Rena, but he hadn’t seen any of the girls at the usual spots and the light drizzle had turned to real rain. He doubted they’d be out on a night like this.
He kept thinking back to the day he’d chatted with the three of them at the pit. The way Lily had been so watchful—the way Sue had run off so happily, Lily watching her go with suspicion.
Sue’s devastation when he’d seen her again.
High school crushes and jealousies. Every time he thought of their behavior, that was how it read to him. But what boy or boys would be dropping them off or picking them up at the pit?
Or what man?
The same one who killed Rena? When Sue had wailed, “I don’t have anyone,” she hadn’t sounded like she was talking about a dealer; she’d sounded like she was talking about a boyfriend.
Again he wondered if the killer was playing them against each other. Maybe he and Bolton had been wrong from the start, and the girls weren’t drawn in by the drugs—maybe they were drawn in by a man who preyed on their desire to be wanted.
To be loved.
Was some man enticing young women with the promise of a grown-up relationship? Were the drugs just a side game? Did he start them off slow with party drugs that put them in the mood—made them easier to seduce?
What turned the game
