Page 18 of The Unbuttoned Ranger (Texas Heat: The Heart of a Texas Ranger #1)

“Where do you think you’re off to, Sharp Creed!” Piper said as she made her way across the yard to where he was finishing up painting the barn for the day.

“Headed home.” He stuck the lid back on the paint can.

“Come to dinner. I won’t take no for an answer. It’s the least I can do for all the help you’re doing around here.”

“You don’t owe me anything.” In fact, doing tasks gave him time to make a mental list of everything he needed to do to get the Texas Heat team running at Creed’s Creek. He’d contacted the men and they all agreed they were in. They were set to start the ball rolling in a few weeks.

“Of course I do. Come up to the house and you can wash up there.” She didn’t wait for his answer but nearly raced up the path toward the house. He’d never seen her move so fast before. She did seem different since CaDee and Carsen arrived. Happier.

If Piper told him to be somewhere then who was he to not listen?

In truth, he couldn’t wait to see CaDee again.

Placing the paint supplies in the back of his truck, grabbed his extra shirt, he then walked up to the house and started to knock when the door came swinging open. Carsen and Piper were on their way out.

“Guess where I’m going, Sharp?” Carsen seemed excited.

“Where, kiddo?”

“I might get to show a goat at the fair so I’m going to a fourth meeting.”

“4H,” Piper corrected.

“You did say dinner tonight, right?” Sharp said to her. He was confused.

“I did, but you know how my mind works. I completely forgot that I promised Carsen I’d take him over to meet the kids in 4H camp. I guess you and CaDee will have to eat without us.” Piper winked and wasted no time shuffling Carsen toward her truck.

When he turned around, he found CaDee standing in the doorway. “Hi,” she said.

He couldn’t find his tongue. She looked amazing.

Working on the farm had turned her skin golden honey that brought out the color of her eyes.

The dark circles were gone, and her smile seemed to fit perfectly on her plush lips.

Her presence reminded him what life had been like before he was jaded, before he saw things that he couldn’t unsee.

The way she made him feel, more alive than he had in years, gave him hope that he wasn’t broken.

They stared for three heartbeats then he said, “Piper invited me to dinner.”

Her disordered stare told him Piper had played them both.

“She did?”

“Yeah, she did.”

“Piper asked if she could take Carsen to 4H camp. They’re supposed to be sitting around the fire, making s’mores, and singing.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. Now he knew why Piper had been so demanding. “That sounds about right.”

“She made dinner. Enough to feed an army. If you don’t mind that it’s just me, I’ll share.” Her smile was a lure that practically pulled him across the threshold.

Sharp felt like they’d been ignoring the chemistry between them for a while and his control was slipping.

“If you don’t mind.” He enjoyed Carsen and Piper’s company, but being alone with CaDee made his heart kick up in speed. He felt a bit like a teen again, wanting to impress the pretty girl.

She took a step back to let him enter. “I always did hate eating alone.”

“I need to wash up,” he said.

“Meet me in the kitchen.”

Not wanting to keep her waiting, he splashed water over his face and arms, ran his fingers through his hair that needed a cut, then put on the clean T-shirt he kept in his truck for just-in-case. Well, this was a just-in-case moment.

A pan of lasagna rested on the kitchen island, cooling. His mouth salivated.

“Have a seat,” CaDee said as she began slicing the pasta.

Two plates were arranged at the island. He took his place at one and poured water from a pitcher into a glass, drinking thirstily. He’d been in the sun most of the day.

He watched her place a square of lasagna on his plate and then one on hers. He tried to keep his attention off her, but he was drawn to staring. The sundress she wore kissed her curves and suddenly his hunger for lasagna turned into something quite different.

“Good thing we’re not disappointing Piper by having dinner together,” she said as she sat down. Her arm brushed his and it took great control not to kiss her.

He dug into the food like a starving man.

CaDee picked at her food.

He realized she was staring at him with curiosity brimming her eyes.

She cleared her throat. “Ursula told me about your injury.”

“I’m not surprised. She doesn’t own a filter.” He used a napkin to wipe his mouth. “I’m assuming you’ve got questions?”

“You were shot? How? Why?” She wiped her fingers on her napkin.

He settled back into the chair, knowing one day he’d have to tell her the story. “Almost three months ago my team and I were gunned down. I’ve been here recovering.”

As expected, it took her a moment to wrap her head around the vague details. “Team?”

“Texas Rangers.” He couldn’t tell her everything.

The recon team needed to be kept under wraps until he knew he could completely trust her.

He had some questions of his own and had been waiting for the right time to ask.

It hadn’t taken much effort to uncover her past. Married to a cop.

Divorced the cop. But he wanted her to fill in the gaps.

Some of her tan disappeared. “Texas Rangers?”

He understood her uneasiness. It wasn’t unusual that people lumped all law enforcement together. Her expression was proof that the divorce hadn’t been amicable.

“Yep.” He pushed his plate away.

“That’s dangerous.”

“It has its moments, but I’ve never been one to shy away from danger.”

“You were shot by a criminal?”

“As a Ranger we tend to accumulate enemies. It won’t be the last time.”

“Getting shot?”

He laughed. “Lord, I hope so. It hurt like a mother fucker—Oops. Sorry.”

“After getting shot you’re not retiring?” Her expression changed s.

He knew he had to be cautious about what he revealed. “I’m staying at Fin’s Creek on the ranch, working to restore it.”

“So that’s why you’re so guarded. You have been formed by the badge.”

“It’s something I picked up, but you can trust me, CaDee.” He hoped she’d share her own story.

“It’s hard to let go after holding on for so long.”

“Sometimes the binds loosen when we talk.”

Her shoulders slumped. “Why do I get the feeling you already know part of my story.”

She was perceptive. He’d give her that. Or maybe just mistrustful.

He reached across the table and took her hand. She didn’t pull away. “I needed to know if there would be trouble.”

A frown creased her lips. “You could have asked.”

“I believe I have.”

“You haven’t been completely honest either.” Her expression became guarded.

The last thing he wanted was for her to close the doors. “After the ambush I think being a bit safeguarded is only natural.”

“How about we start by you telling me what you already know, or what you think?” She pulled her hand away.

“What I know is your ex-husband was a cop. A detective. You two divorced but the records are sealed, which isn’t uncommon considering his career. What I think, is that you’re running from Carsen’s father.”

She steadied her gaze on him. “Sharp—”

“Before you answer, know that whatever you say to me is said to me as your friend, not a Ranger.”

“Dante is a dangerous man. He lost custody rights to Carsen and that was a big blow to his ego. He uses his badge to manipulate and dodge trouble. Carsen and I were living in Chicago, trying to rebuild our lives, but Dante found us.” She touched her wrist. “The bruises that you saw, they were from him attacking me as I tried to escape.” She looked uneasy.

Anger took shape in Sharp.

He wanted to hunt the bastard down and show him what happens to dirty cops.

"I have something to tell you that I've kept private."

She responded, "What is it?"

"When I was working on your car, I found a tracking device installed."

She laughed but it was anything but humorous. “You’re kidding, right?”

He shook his head. “I wish I were. When I found it, I did what I thought was best and did some digging.”

She stood and took her unfinished plate to the sink. “That means he knows where Carsen and I are.” She stared through the window, and he could see the subtle shake in her shoulders.

He went to her but didn’t touch her. “CaDee, I destroyed the tracker.”

She swung around to face him. The fear he saw in her expression made him weak. He wanted to protect her, and Carsen, with everything he had.

“He must have placed it on my car in Chicago. That was why he didn’t chase after me.” She shook her head in disgust. “He knew he didn’t have to bother because he had the tracker and would know our location. That means even Fin’s Creek isn’t safe.”

“I know how you must feel, but believe me, you can’t keep running.”

She crossed her arms over her waist. “What choice do I have?”

“You have choices. Don’t let him take them away from you.

As far as I see it, Fin’s Creek is the safest place you and Carsen can be right now.

Trust me on this.” He wanted to tell her everything, that the Texas Heat Recon would be next door and Dante would have to be out of his mind to show up and cause problems. He was in a tug of war between his loyalty to his team and his newfound loyalty to her.

“I’m tired. One that no amount of sleep will ever help. It’s deep in my bones.”

“I understand. I really do. But you and Carsen have made a home here. He’s happy.”

She nodded sadly. “He does love it here.”

He cupped her cheek, not being able to deny himself any longer. “I’ll protect you and Carsen.”

He swore he could see the last thread of control break in her eyes.

She dropped her arms to her sides and then she walked into his arms. The kiss was full of restless energy, like a Band-Aid had been ripped off an old wound.

They pressed their bodies together as the temperature spiked.

They couldn’t seem to get enough as a fire burned between them.

She led him out of the kitchen without breaking the kiss.

In the shadows of the hallway, he pressed her against the wall, framing her head with his hands.

He wanted to take things slow, make sure she was ready for the next step, but she didn’t let him up for air.

Her fingers were on his buckle, tearing at the metal like a hungry wolf.

He helped her release his belt, but she took over at unbuttoning and unzipping his jeans.

He sucked in sweet oxygen when she reached in and wrapped her fingers around his hard cock.

He lifted the hem of the dress and touched her center where he found damp heat.

Slipping her panties to the side, he slid his fingers through the satiny-damp flesh. She bucked her hips against his fingers, her moans escaping her throat. Sinking his fingers into her narrow passage, he drove them knuckle-deep.

She pushed his hand away with her free hand, and with the other she led his cock to the apex of her thighs.

With both hands on her ass, he lifted her and pressed her against the wall, as he thrust himself inside of her, filling every tight inch of her tunnel with his throbbing cock.

Lost in a frenzied emotion, he drove himself inside her, repeatedly, wanting to make her his.

When he felt her muscles spasm and the gushing of her orgasm, he lost control. He spilled his seed inside her.

He held her against the wall, their sweaty and satiated bodies pressed together. Their heavy breathing was the only sound in the quiet hallway.

She gave him a gentle push and he set her on her feet.

While he took care of his jeans and belt, she pushed her skirt down her legs.

“CaDee, I want you to know—”

“I can’t talk right now. I need to absorb what we shared tonight, all of it. Would you please go.” She didn’t even look at him.

And just like that his body deflated and so did his hopes.