If his weary eyes were any indicator, he hadn’t slept all that much either. But they were sharp, narrowed. His jaw was clenched and covered in whiskers. Even lit up by the harsh red and blue lights, I couldn’t miss that he was pissed.
He glanced over his shoulder. “Where the hell is Roy?”
I didn’t answer his question, only blinked at him, then shivered. “That guy… God, Huck, that guy—”
I was yanked against Huck’s solid chest, and his arms went around me. One big hand slid up and down my back. The other cupped my head. My cheek was pressed into his uniform shirt, and I started to cry.
It was because a guy had died in a car accident, definitely. But Huck was holding me, giving me comfort. I’d relied on him to protect me when we’d dated, and I’d loved it. Craved the way I’d felt safe. I’d forgotten what his hugs were like. How he smelled. In the fresh night air I breathed in his scent. Rugged and dark. Laundry detergent but also man. He was warm and steady, powerful and protective.
“I’m sorry you saw that, baby girl,” he murmured, then kissed my hair. “Just take a minute.”
I nodded against his chest and slowly pulled myself together. I should be hating him after what he’d said earlier, but I couldn’t. Not now.
With a gentle tug on my hair, he tipped my head back so I had to look up at him. “Where the hell is Roy?”
I stiffened at the repeated question, then frowned. “Why does everyone think I can’t do this? I know I’m small, but I’m not lifting the car onto the tow truck.”
“You should be safe in bed, not out here. Where’s Roy?”
He wasn’t going to settle until he got his answer.
“He didn’t answer his cell, I guess. Graham called me.”
“Graham has your number?” If Huck had fur, he’d have a stripe raised up his back based on the way he asked.
I rolled my eyes. “Yes, Graham and I are having a wild fling. He calls me to meet him. At car accidents. It’s pretty hot.”
“Talk like that gets you over my knee, baby girl.”
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to punch him in the throat or climb him like a tree for that. The one time we’d had sex, it had been hot. A little frantic, but I’d been a virgin and had had no clue what I was doing. It had hurt like hell, too, even though Huck had been gentle.
But I’d learned I didn’t want gentle. He’d been holding back with me, and for my first time I was thankful. But I wasn’t a virgin any longer, and my needs weren’t tame. Or at least they weren’t tame with Huck.
I wanted him to take me over his knee. Then fuck me hard.
That wasn’t what I needed to think about right now. Or ever. I stepped back from his hold. Remembered where I was. That it was Huck standing in front of me. I shouldn’t be seeking comfort from him. I hated him. Right?
“Then stop asking stupid questions,” I snapped.
His lips thinned, and his gaze shifted between mine. I felt as if I was a suspect and he was waiting for me to admit my guilt to a crime.
“Head back to your truck. It’s going to take a little time. The preschool downtown, Claire’s preschool, was set on fire earlier. An eyewitness put this car”—he tipped his head toward the flipped vehicle—“at the scene. There’s a gas can and other evidence that has to be gone through.”
“God, was anyone hurt?”
He shook his head, but his jaw clenched tight. I was sure he was thinking about his daughter and the other children being caught in a fire. Some of my fight left me then, realizing all that Huck had stacked on his shoulders.
“Someone will get you when it’s time to load the car.” He turned, then shifted back. Lowered his head before I could even blink, and kissed me hard and fast. His mouth was firm, intent. His tongue plundered for one delicious lick. Then he stalked off.
“That’s it?” I called, setting my fingers on my lips. “Wait?”
He stopped, looked over his shoulder at me. “You need to talk to your daddy.”
10
HUCK
Sunday, 11 a.m.
I pulled my police SUV up in front of the main house. Kelsey climbed out and didn’t look back, meeting Alice on the front porch. The older woman put her arms around Kelsey’s shoulders and led her inside. Kelsey hated me because I’d arrested her so she’d be forced to talk to Sawyer. It was complicated and their own story, but yeah, she wasn’t happy with me. That was fine. What was important was that she loved Sawyer, even when he was hotheaded.
It had been a clusterfuck at the station after we got back from the rollover. Since Kelsey had been the only witness to the fire the night before, Sawyer had brought her in to write a statement. Bunky, a guy we’d grown up with who was a total asshole, had shown up for a report to file with insurance because he was the owner of the preschool building that had burned. But it turned out he was also Kelsey’s ex. She’d followed him to Montana and found out he was a lying douche canoe and was married—to Sarah’s sister, Lynn—and had two kids. In the station lobby, Sawyer had punched Bunky in the face for being an asshole to Kelsey and had stormed off, pissed.
There were details I didn’t know, but I’d driven Kelsey to the ranch because she had no place to go since it turned out she’d been living in the preschool that burned. I had a feeling that once Sawyer cooled off, he’d be thankful she was safe. And here on the ranch where she
