Page 90 of Surly Sheriff
He ran his hand over Jack’s head and rested it on the little boy’s shoulder. Looking down, he held solemn Jacks stare. “I see that.”
Several seconds later Xena barked, and Rae stepped through the door, dropping her top over the waistband. Jack bounded up the stairs, but Beau followed at a much slower pace, his mind working overtime.
What the fuck was Rae mixed up in?
What danger had she placed upon his kid?
His kid?
He patted the pocket where he’d stowed the DNA test.
In the kitchen, she set the leash on the table and reached for one of the six-packs of water stacked on the floor. She tore into the plastic, removed a bottle, and twisted the cap. “Jack, empty this in Xena’s bowl outside.”
The kid grabbed the bottle from her. “Come, Xena!” he yelled, and they both raced through the kitchen. A door opened and closed.
Leaving him and Rae alone.
He got right in her space, his face mere inches from hers. “What’s with the weapon? The trained dog? You got trouble following you? Putting your son’s life at risk?”
She recoiled, and her eyes flashed with irritation. Which was fine by him, because as he spoke, his own anger rose to the fore. If she was mixed up with some shady business, so help him, he’d yank Jack from her faster than one could say divorce.
“I have a weapon because I’m a woman on my own with a child to protect. And yes, Xena is trained and even with a burly sheriff by my side, I let her do her stuff. Routine keeps her alert.”
He couldn’t fault her answer. Even a peaceful town like Clearbrook had its share of problems. He latched on to his next bugbear. “You’ve a safe place to store the weapon?”
Rae huffed, rolling her eyes. “If it’s not strapped on, it’s in a lockbox. And before you ask, my permit is valid in Nebraska. And yes, I am prepared to use it if someone threatens my family.” She picked up another bottle of water and twisted the cap.
She lifted the bottle to her lips and took a few sips.
A droplet glistened at the corner of her lip. He watched it slip down her chin. And swallowed the sudden flood of saliva in his mouth. She swiped the back of her hand across her mouth.
His eyes roamed over her features. Hair pulled back in a tight ponytail and darkened by sweat; skin clear and tanned, not a hint of makeup; a few lines fanning from her eyes, but they added, not distracted. She was more beautiful than before.
But standing here, admiring,desiringher, was not the reason for his visit. He removed the test kit and placed it beside the water. “For a mouth swab.”
Her lips compressed. “Jackisyour son.”
Rae’s annoyance with him grated, escalating his own. “Do it.”
“Fine.” She grabbed the package and tore it open. “You wanna watch?”
He shook his head.
She spun and marched away. A door opened, and she appeared on the back veranda. “Jack,” she called.
And he watched. He couldn’tnot.
Looking out the kitchen window, he feasted on her interaction with the kid. Occasionally, during his melancholic nights, he’d lamented the loss of having a family with Rae.
And now … seeing her kneel before the young boy …
He wasn’t sure he’d ever forgive her if it turned out that Jackwashis son. Not seeing his first step, hearing his first word …
Fuck. Hearing him sayda-da.
How Nate had preened when that had been Emma’s first word.
Beau blinked at the sudden blurring of his sight and refocused on the scene outside. The kid’s mouth was open wide, and Rae did the cheek swab thing and placed the stick back in the tube. She dropped a kiss on his forehead and stood. The boy picked up a frisbee and flicked it. The dog leaped into the air and caught it between her powerful jaws. The boy clapped and shouted, “Good girl.” The dog bounded back and knocked the boy down. The boy roared with laughter, jumping to his feet. The dog lifted her head and gave a series of short howls.
