Page 17 of Her Rugged Guardian

And the way she looked in the sheer nightgown had almost driven me to ripping it off and fucking her like some brutal savage. Great. That would add to my less than stellar reputation. Still, the sassy vixen had managed to do something no other woman had in years. She’d made me hungry, desire lingering to the point my balls were aching. While everything about her was attractive, including her long, shapely legs and breasts the perfect size for my big hands, maybe my attraction was based on her instant hatred of me.

I’d always loved a challenge.

I snorted as a red light yanked my attention and I realized I was pretty darn close to running out of gas. I hadn’t paid any attention before, purchasing a new phone the first thing earlier that morning. A few seconds later, I pulled into the Chevron station, luckily not needing to wait before heading to a pump. As soon as I climbed out, I noticed my buddy the sheriff pulling in. I grabbed my wallet, studying his face as he eased from his municipal vehicle. It had been a long time since I’d seen him looking so haggard.

“Hey, Jake. How’s it going?” Bart asked. He’d been the local sheriff for years, a guy I’d gone to high school with. Back in the day, he’d been considered a bad seed, someone most likely toend up in prison. He’d cleaned up his act by serving a stint in Afghanistan, returning a changed man.

“Not too bad. Long night?”

He pulled out his wallet, eyeing me carefully then lifting his sunglasses. His eyes were bloodshot, and I knew the guy well enough to know it had nothing to do with partying. He only did that when he was playing poker and if that had been the case, I would have been there. A look of amusement crossed his face. “I don’t know who had a rougher night, me or you. You get into a little wrestling match with a sexy gal?”

I touched my forehead before answering. “More like a coyote.” I slipped my card into the slot, enjoying the brisk chill in the air. However, the light breeze tickled my nose with Cinnamon Girl’s delicious scent.

He laughed, but I could see the strain on his face. “Well, then you had a better night than me.”

“What’s going on?” I shoved the pump into my gas tank before heading toward him.

The quick glance over his shoulder meant whatever was troubling him was all about business. “Spent the night working a murder, a gruesome one.”

“Anyone I know?”

“No, an out of towner, a young woman in a cheap motel room. She could have been moving here given the number of belongings she had with her but I’m not sure yet. I’ll tell you this much. The crime scene was a brutal night. Worst I’ve seen. There sure are some sick bastards in this world.”

“Any idea who did it?”

Bart shook his head. While there was crime in Depoe Bay the same as any small town, murders were few and far between, especially gruesome ones. I could tell whatever had occurred troubled him tremendously. “Nah. Don’t go sharing this around but it’s the second one in a couple weeks.”

“What? Why didn’t I hear about the first?”

“Technically the first body was found in Pacific City. You know I’m buddies with the sheriff up there. We’re both trying to keep it under wraps. You know. Hysteria and all.”

“Same MO?” Shit. This was bad.

As the pump filling his truck cut off, he nodded. “I might be jumping to conclusions, but I called the PC sheriff just a little while ago to compare notes. The first victim was another woman and new to the city. She just moved there like three weeks ago. I don’t mind telling you I don’t like it. No sign of forced entry at the motel or the rental cottage either, which could mean the two women knew their attacker.”

“Or that they felt comfortable letting him in for some reason. Maybe a coffee date?”

“Eh. Good point. I’ll keep that in the back of my mind.”

“Are you thinking we have a serial killer on the loose?” Shit. That certainly didn’t bode well for any tourists rolling in to do some whale watching.

“I’m not saying shit and you aren’t going to either. To anyone. The last thing I need is hysteria in town.” He yanked the pump from his tank.

“Don’t worry. I’m not saying a thing to anyone.” Thoughts of Cassandra rushed into my mind. Sadly, the one thing I knewabout Margaret’s bed and breakfast was that there were too many easy ways of breaking in. Maybe I’d pick up a few extra locks on the way back to the place. The nagging regarding Margaret’s death shifted into the forefront of my mind. “I hope you catch the guy.”

“Me too. We on for poker next Thursday?”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” I started to head back to my truck.

“I heard about Riley. Kinda surprised.”

He only mentioned my brother when the kid had gotten himself into a skirmish or had scored the winning goal for the team. “What about Riley?” I shifted back to face him. “Please don’t tell me he got himself arrested.”

Bart shrugged then laughed. “No. The tryout with Vancouver. From what I heard, he’s likely to get the spot.”

I took a deep breath, a quick rush of anger drifting into my system. No wonder Riley had been celebrating the night before. Fuck. It was like having a knife shoved into my heart. “I hadn’t heard.”

“Shit. I’m sorry, man. I was certain you knew. People have been talking about how much good it will do for the tourist trade.”

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