Cowboy Defender

“Hank would never do something like this,” Miranda said firmly. “He might be the town drunk, but he isn’t capable of doing something like this to me.”

“And neither of you remember anyone specific being around you when the acid was thrown?” Dillon asked again as a frown cut across his forehead.

Both Miranda and Clay shook their heads. Dammit, he should have been more aware of things...of the people surrounding them. But how could he have anticipated that somebody would throw acid on Miranda? He still found it hard to believe...and horrifying that it had happened at all.

What he wanted to do at this very moment was wrap his arms tightly around her and carry her off someplace where he knew she would be safe.

“Have you had any fights or arguments with any parents at the school?” Dillon’s question pulled Clay from his thoughts. “Or maybe a coworker?”

“No, nothing like that.” Miranda’s cheeks paled once again. “So you think this was a specific attack on me and not just some random thing?”

Dillon’s frown deepened. “Right now I’m not sure what to think. I’m sending your sweater to the lab, but it will take a while to get back results. Before we left the carnival grounds I talked to dozens of people, but nobody confessed to seeing anything.”

He stood. “I’ll question the boys and continue to investigate, but in the meantime the only advice I can give you is that you might watch your back and let me know immediately if anything else disturbing happens.”

Miranda was shaken by the lawman’s words. Clay could tell by the darkening of her eyes and the way she half-stumbled out of the chair.

He jumped up and grabbed her by the upper arm to steady her. Hell, he was also badly shaken by Dillon’s words. He thanked the lawman and led Miranda out of the building and back to his truck.

“I can’t believe this is happening,” she said breathlessly as he started the engine.

“I still say it was some kind of a crazy random act,” he replied in an effort to ease her fear a little. “You are very well liked and respected in this town.”

“But what kind of a person does something like this? Who even thinks about throwing acid on another person? It’s the worst kind of evil. It’s like something out of a horror movie. I can’t even imagine that I know anyone capable of it.” She wrapped her arms around herself as if suddenly chilled. “I’m sorry. I’m rambling.”

“Ramble away. Most women would be completely hysterical by now.”

“I’ve really never been the hysterical type,” she replied. “But, I reserve the right to be hysterical if something like this happens again.”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.” God, he didn’t even want to think about something like this happening again to her. He pulled up into her driveway.

She stared at her dark house for a long moment and then turned to look at him. “Uh, would you like to come in to visit for a little while? I’m afraid all I can offer you for a drink is either coffee or cherry Kool-Aid.”

He knew if the night had ended without incident she probably wouldn’t have invited him inside. But she was scared and he was scared for her. “I’ve always been a sucker for a good cherry Kool-Aid.”

She flashed him a quick, stressed smile. They got out of the truck together and walked up the wobbly porch stairs. “You could definitely use some new stairs and railings,” he said as she unlocked the front door.

“Hank has promised to fix them for months. He even showed up here last week in the middle of the night to fix them. He was stinking drunk and I sent him home. I’m beginning to think it’s about time to hire somebody else to fix them.” She opened the front door and ushered him inside.

He entered a small foyer and followed her into the living room. It was a space that befitted his impression of her. The sofa was dark blue and overstuffed, with big floral throw pillows that immediately offered a welcome to sit and visit for a spell. A bookcase held a television as well as movies, games and storybooks.

There was a faint scent of cinnamon in the air, as if something wonderful had recently been baked. The room held the warmth of family and Clay instantly felt at home.

“Do you really want a glass of Kool-Aid or would you rather have a cup of coffee?”

“The first thing I’d like is a tour of your house.” He didn’t really care about what the rest of the house looked like, but after the night they’d had he wanted to make sure they were the only two people on the premises.

She looked at him in surprise. “Oh, okay.” She led him up the stairs and into the first bedroom on the right. It was an explosion of pink...pink bedspread, pink curtains and a fuzzy pink throw rug on the floor.

“It’s a great room for a little girl,” he said. He walked over to the closet and opened it. “And good closet space.” He turned back to face Miranda.

She stared at him and he was dismayed to see fear darkening her eyes once again. “You aren’t just interested in seeing my decorating style or the layout of the house.”

He released a small sigh. He’d hoped to be smooth enough that she wouldn’t know what he was doing, but he’d obviously failed. “You’re right. I want to make sure nobody is here who shouldn’t be here.”

“Thank you,” she said in a small voice.

Fifteen minutes later they were seated at the kitchen table with cups of coffee. He had checked every single room in the house and all the closets. He had also been pleased to see that her doors had both good locks and dead bolts. All the windows on the lower level were also equipped with solid new locks.

“You sure know how to give a man an exciting first date,” he said.

“It wasn’t a date,” she protested.

“Oh, that’s right. You don’t date. Why not?” A woman like her should love and be loved. She was not only beautiful, she was also bright and had a musical laugh that would make the birds sing in the trees.

“The main reason is that I’m not looking for a relationship. I’m not interested in marrying again so there’s really no point in dating.” She took a sip of her coffee and eyed him as she set down the cup. “So, why do you date so much? You must know that your nickname around town is Romeo Madison.”

He winced. “I can’t figure out this dating thing. If I’m Romeo then all I’m doing is looking for my Juliet. How else do you find that special someone if you don’t date?”

“According to rumor, you’ve definitely been cutting a wide swath through the female population,” she said dryly.

“It’s not like I’m sleeping with every woman in town,” he protested. “It’s just that I go out with a woman a couple of times and realize she’s not the forever one for me, so I stop seeing her.”

“Well, I hope you find that special someone,” she replied.

“I’m working on it.” He certainly wasn’t going to tell her that he was working on it right now and trying to figure out how he could get a second date with her.

“It’s getting late,” she said after a long moment of awkward silence. “And to be honest, I’m completely exhausted.”

It was an obvious dismissal. He drained his coffee cup and stood. “Walk me to the front door?”

She nodded and also got up from the table. Together they walked to the door and once there he turned to face her. “Try not to worry about what happened tonight. I can’t help but believe it was a random attack and had nothing to do with you personally.”

“I desperately want that to be true.”

She looked so small and so achingly vulnerable. Knowing he risked a major rebuff, he followed through on his desire and pulled her into his arms.

She stiffened, and then relaxed against him. She fit as if she belonged in his arms. She was warm and he could feel the thrust of her breasts against his chest.

His sole reason for embracing her was to comfort her, but as he continued to hold her for several long moments a wave of desire swept through him.

She sighed and raised her face to look at him. Her lips parted slightly and he took advantage of the moment and covered them with his own.

So soft and so wonderfully warm, her lips stirred him and heightened the desire that had been sizzling through him all evening long. He touched the tip of her tongue with his and that’s when she halted the kiss.

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