Read I Caught the Sheriff for Free Online Page A

her feet. “It’s okay. I’ll go
home. You can call me afterward if you like.”
    Her smile was like sunshine in August. Big and broad and
brilliant. “Want to go see the fireworks together?”
    He nodded, understanding the call of work and duty. Then he
picked up the pen and pad next to the phone. “I’ll give you my number.”
    She put a hand to his arm. “If I don’t call, it’s because
I’m tied up.”
    “Then when you’re free.” He was going to miss her company.
The realization hit him fast and sweet. And it was not just the playtime in bed
that made him grin, but he got realistic quickly. Is it good to care for a
woman again?
    Yeah, Coltrane. See where it goes. Life alone isn’t
working out real well. And this woman is worth the emotional risk.
    * * * * *
    Four hours later, Lana never called him before she took the
one-lane road over to Lex’s ranch house in a hurry. Fury riding her hard, she
knew what she had to do and she was damn unhappy about it, too.
    The sound of her patrol truck must have alerted him to her
arrival because he came out the front door and stood, both feet planted on the
sun-dappled porch. Two of his wranglers stood in front of the foreman’s house,
inquisitive about the arrival of the sheriff.
    “A problem?” Lex scowled at her as she shut the door and
marched up the steps to face him.
    “Yes, a big one. We have company.” She tilted her head
toward his two cowboys. “Can we go inside?”
    Curiosity lining his mouth, he pulled open the door in a
flash. “After you.”
    Pacing back and forth in the cool shadows of his front hall,
she was seeing red.
    “What’s wrong?” he asked, hooking his thumbs in his belt
loops and frowning at her.
    “Do you not know?” she challenged him, coming closer.
    “If I knew, I wouldn’t ask.” He sounded truthful, miffed
that she’d challenge him.
    She had to be certain he was innocent. And she knew she
shouldn’t even be here before she studied all the evidence. But disappointment
that this discovery had happened now when she wanted to enjoy his company at
the fireworks ate at her logic. “Did you put makeshift drains from the bend in
High Maria Creek to run under the interstate bridge toward your property?”
    His eyes popped. “No. I did not. Who says I did?”
    “I do.”
    “What?” He scowled. “Why?”
    “Gregg Larsson had me out to that part of his land where the
creek bends. He found makeshift pipe leading from High Maria to land on your
side of the property line. That was who called when we were at my house. I had
to go investigate.”
    “You bet, you did.” Lex nodded, his jaw tightening with
restraint. “But I’m curious as to how you think it was my doing.”
    “I don’t think. I saw evidence.”
    He snorted. “Whatever you’ve got, I did not do it. Show me
what you’ve got.”
    She knew he’d ask that, demand it even. But liking what
they’d done in bed together did not mean she would jeopardize her integrity to
uphold him. Or ignore any wrongdoing. “No. I’ll examine it. Then send it to
Austin to the Ranger forensics lab. I can’t simply take your word for it, can
I?”
    That made him snarl. In two steps, he had one arm wrapped
around her waist and the other pushing her to the wall. “You can do anything
you want. You’re the sheriff.”
    “Yeah!” She writhed to get free of his grip. But he was
fierce and anger made him stubborn. “I’m your fucking sheriff!
    Devilry played across his features. “How true.” He kissed
her, hard, fast and rough.
    She broke away, her lips stinging, but his hand in her hair
had him hauling her back to kiss her again. This kiss was more than the claim
of the previous one. This was a lingering, lavish exploration of all the
delicious desire they had shared.
    “That’s real and true,” he whispered as he dragged his mouth
from hers. “You think I’d lie to you? Now? After what we did earlier?”
    Keep your sanity here, Sheriff. “Do I know you