Tyler saw that it was the Sheriff’s vehicle. He knew they needed to make statements but had hoped to hold off a little longer. With a roll of his shoulders, he dropped his hands from Jeanie and turned to greet the man. Tyler liked the sheriff well enough, but he was conditioned to always be on guard.

The Sheriff stopped his vehicle right in front of them and stepped out. “Well, folks, I heard you had a bit of excitement here today.”

“You heard right.” Tyler tried to not sound so gruff, but he knew irritation could be heard in his voice.

“How are you doin’, little lady,” the sheriff said, reaching a hand out to Jeanie.

She shook his hand and gave him a smile. “I’m fine now that it’s all done.”

When the sheriff reached out his hand to Tyler, he didn’t hesitate. He’d already been rude once.

“Alright, let’s get down to business. I need a statement from both of you. The Brotherhood Protectors gave me theirs a little bit ago when they dropped off the man they took into custody. Now, it’s your turn to give me your side of the story.”

Jeanie squared her shoulders. “Come on. We can go find a seat in the study in the house. We’ll need some quiet,” she said and turned to walk toward the house.

They followed behind her, and Tyler noticed the way her jeans fit over her butt and how it looked like a heart, and how her legs were long and lean. He remembered the feel of her legs around him and couldn’t believe that had been only yesterday. Deep in his heart, he knew what they’d started was something that could last for a life time, but he needed to talk to Jeanie alone.

She led them through the main entrance of the house, through the living room and two doors down the hallway to a large study. They could hear men laughing and talking loudly down in the kitchen. As they walked past the living room, the noise became more muffled. The study was decorated in a western style with pictures and statues of horses and cattle. There was an overstuffed, brown love seat and two arm chairs.

Jeanie offered one of the side chairs to the sheriff, and she took the love seat. Tyler settled next to her.

The sheriff pulled out a notepad and a pen from his pocket.

Jeanie took a deep breath and then started. “We were out in the north field helping with the horses while the other men worked to put out the fire. I was at the farthest end, closer to where the vehicles were parked.”

She continued to tell the story, and then when she was done, the sheriff turned to Tyler.

“Is there anything you’d like to add to that Mr. King?”

“Just that I’m glad this is all over.”

“Looks like the DA will have plenty to charge him with, just from today’s incident. Once we go over his vehicle and check out where he was staying, we’ll see if we can connect him to the other attempts on Jeanie’s life. He’s looking at doing time for attempted kidnapping, and multiple accounts of attempted murder. You two need to stay close in case we have any more questions.”

They all stood up.

“Let me lead you out,” Tyler said. “Jeanie, you should go eat something.”

Jeanie nodded and smiled at the sheriff. Tyler escorted the sheriff out of the house and back to his vehicle.

“Well, hopefully, that’s all settled,” the sheriff said, “but I’ll keep you updated if anything else comes up.”

“Thank you, sir, and the same for us as well.” Tyler shook hands with the sheriff then turned back to the house. He walked through the entrance to the kitchen and saw several of the men who had come to help with the fire. They’d just finished their meal and were in the process of leaving.

“Thank you, gentlemen, for all your help today,” he said.

They all shook hands with him as they walked by. One of them, a rancher who lived nearby, said, “We all pitch in around here when there’s an emergency. It makes it easier when there are more people to help out.”

“Well, I’m pretty new here, but thanks again.”

“You are very welcome, young man. Now, me and my boys need to get back to our place to finish our work.” He tipped his hat in salute, and they left the room.

Jeanie sat at the kitchen island with a plate of food. She waved for him to come over. All the food had been placed on the island buffet style. He piled food on his plate and took a seat beside her. “How are you doing?”

“Pretty good, but I’m whooped. I think I could sleep for a week,” she said with a grin.

She did look tired. with dark circles under her eyes.

“It hasn’t hit me yet. I’m still a little hyped-up, right now. I’ll probably crash hard, later.”

She paused her fork mid-way to her mouth and gave him a sideways glance. “So, with my protection detail ending, does this mean you’ll get another assignment?”

Was there a little regret in her eyes? He hoped so. “I don’t know, but I really wanted to talk to you first.”

She set her fork down. “What about?” she said, looking at her plate.

The downward slant of her shoulders said clearly, she wasn’t happy. “Jeanie, look at me, sweetie.”

When she finally did, there were tears pooling in her eyes.

Trying to be brave and not wanting to acknowledge the tears, he said, “I’ve always worked hard and never really looked to find someone to be my partner in life. The way I grew up was hard, and I’ve always resisted commitment, because…I was afraid I’d turn out like my dad.”

Her lip started to tremble, but he couldn’t stop now or he’d never get it out. “Then I joined the military and found brothers and sisters in arms. They became my family. Now, I’m part of the Brotherhood Protectors and can already feel the comradery and bonds forming.” He took a deep breath then let it out, because tears were tracking down her face.

He felt a twinge in his chest, but he couldn’t take her into his arms. Not yet. “I love you so much,” he whispered. “I know it’s only been a few days, but I know deep in my heart that we’re a good fit. I know I’m broken, but could you give me a chance to show you how much you mean to me?”

Jeanie began to sob, and her body shook.

Not sure whether she was sorry he felt that way or happy, he couldn’t stand to see her cry. He took her into his arms and made shushing noises into her hair. When she finally calmed, he drew back and looked into her now teal eyes.

She drew a ragged breath. “Tyler, I love you, too.”

Joy and relief flashed through him as she leaned toward him to kiss his mouth. One kiss led to another, deeper one.

Finally, they broke apart, and Jeanie leaned her head on his shoulder. “I’m willing to try if you will be patient with me,” she said softly.

“Hell, yeah, I’m willing to give this a try.”

Her mouth curved into a sweet smile. “You know, now that I think about it, who’s going to pick out your clothes if I’m not around?”

Jeanie couldn’t believe her luck. First, she was kidnapped then almost killed a few times. Finally, some good luck had rolled her way in the form of a gorgeous man named Tyler. She didn’t know what was coming next, but she did know she wasn’t spending the rest of her life wondering what could have been. This moment was here and now, and she planned on seizing it and holding on tight. He thought of himself as broken, but really, she was the broken one. He was the strong and courageous one, while she was afraid of her dreams.

The one truly good thing about the experiences he’d lived through was that he knew and understood the fear she lived with every day, and he didn’t pity her. With their combined histories, they made one of heck of a pair. While worrying over his issues, he didn’t see what she did. He was nothing like his father. The man was gentle with her and animals. People always say that animals can tell if someone is bad or not, and all the animals on the ranch responded to him with matching compassion and comfort.

With her decision made, she stood, ready to move forward. “Tyler, I’ll do everything I can to make this relationship work and grow, because I believe in you and us.” Phew, she’d said it.

With a whoop, he rose and swung her up and around. She laughed, feeling free and light as air.

When he set her on her feet, a cough sounded. They both turned to find Cookie fighting a grin and a mock-frown lowering his eyebrows. “Don’t be making a mess in my kitchen. Take that monkey business to another room.”

Chastened, but chuckling, they walked hand in hand out the door and into the mildly smoky fresh air.

Tyler raised one of her hands and gave the back of it a kiss. “Jeanie, I need to go call Hank, but I’ll meet you in the barn in a little while.” After letting her go, he walked away, pulling his cellphone from his pocket.

Once again, she noted he looked mighty fine in those jeans. She was a lucky girl.

With a little skip in her step, she strode to the barn. She figured she could work with Minnie while Tyler finished his call.

A little while later, Tyler entered the barn and walked toward Jeanie, a huge grin on his face. He swooped her up into his arms and gave her a big hug.

The other hands were around, and her cheeks heated. “Put me down. You’re making a spectacle of me,” she scolded, although she followed that with wink.

He placed her back on her feet.

“So, what’s the news, hot shot?”

His grin stretched so wide his pearl-white teeth flashed. “Hank says I can work part-time for the Brotherhood Protectors, so I can continue to work here at the ranch. Gavin wants to hire me. I’m not going anywhere. When there’s a mission, I’ll go, but for the most part I’ll be here.”

“Is that what you want?” she asked, hoping he’d say yes, because she knew saving horses would help him learn what kind of man he really was.

Tyler nodded. “Being here, it brought back so many memories. But it’s not the fact I’m remembering happy times that makes me feel…connected. I love ranching. Who knew?” He shrugged and smiled, his gaze on her, waiting for her reaction.

“Well, I think it’s amazing. How many people get a chance to do even one thing they love? You get two.” She moved closer and wound her arms around his neck. “You know, I was thinking while I was mucking out Millie’s stall. My sister and I have been wanting to expand our business, and a lot of our clients come from around here…”

He tilted his head. “Really? Seems like a small community.”

“Well, a lot of the big ranches have been bought up by rich Hollywood types. They make them dude ranches or resorts, so we’d have plenty of clientele. They wouldn’t have to fly to LA or Aspen.”

“You’d stay here to be close to me?”

His warm eyes almost took on a puppy dog look, but with that chiseled jawline, no puppy ever looked so ruggedly handsome.

Just then, a little furry head butted her thigh, and she looked down to see Minnie. Jeanie giggled. “Such a needy little creature,” she said. “Like I didn’t already wear out my fingers giving you scratches.”

Minnie rubbed against Tyler, and he had bent to rub her head and stroke her back.

“Fickle creature,” she muttered. If Jeanie didn’t know any better, she’d almost think this little miniature horse was half dog.

With a giggle, she joined Tyler who picked up Minnie’s reins and walked to the corral. They spent a while with Minnie and the other hands, exercising the horses. When Minnie was safe in her stall again, they left the barn.

The sky to the west was starting to display the pretty oranges and purples of the evening sunset. However, looking in the opposite direction, Jeanie could see that a storm was brewing.

Distant lightning followed by an echo of thunder. The wind started to pick up.

“I guess we’re finally going to get some much-needed rain,” Tyler said beside her.

“It’s perfect timing after those fields burned. The grass will easily come back up again.”

Tyler shook his head. “Wow. This’ll be my first Montana storm.”

“Stormy nights are kind of mystical and dangerous here. They can come up fast, but they’re awesome to watch through the big bay windows in the front of the house.”

Tyler’s arm came around her shoulders, and she rested her head there. She could get used to a lifetime of his embraces.

He kissed the top of her head, and they stood there as the wind picked up more, and her hair whipped around her face.

He leaned wiped his thumb a crossed her cheek. “You have some soot on your cheek.”

“Thanks,” she said in a whisper.

“Your welcome, beautiful.”

“We should head back to the house before the storm arrives.”

“After you, milady,” he said, dropping his arm and giving her an exaggerated wave.

Her blush heated her cheeks as she stepped out.

Once inside, Jeanie turned to Tyler. “Do you want to stay the night with me?”

“I want to stay every night with you.”

He followed her into her room and closed the door. She kicked her boots off, and Tyler strode toward her and reached out to pulled off her top. He kissed her lips then moved down her neck to her breasts.

As his lips traveled over her breasts, Jeanie got busy unbuttoning his shirt and pushing it off his arms. His hands smoothed over her back and unclasped her bra. Cool air touched her breasts as he pulled away the cups and took one breast into his mouth.

A moan escaped her lips, and he grinned as he straightened and took her mouth in a ferocious kiss. He was like a lion, devouring her mouth. As his passion grew, so did hers, and she gripped his shoulders and hopped up to wrap her jean-clad legs around his back. Again, they kissed, hands molding over muscles and curves.

Tyler walked to the bed and bent, depositing her on the mattress. The muscles of his arms rippled as he unwrapped her legs, unzipped her jeans, and pulled them down her legs. Straightening, he went to work removing his jeans and boxers. His cock sprung free. She curved to wrap her hands around his cock and began to move them up and down his shaft. His body bucked, and then he crawled onto the mattress, settling over her. Her hand never stopped its movement.

“Much more of that, and I won’t last,” he rasped as he took her hands and stretched them above her head. “Stay just like that.”

“I wasn’t planning to go anywhere,” she said, dipping her eyelids to give him a sultry look.

His gaze narrowed, and he reached for his jeans, dug into a pocket, and pulled out a condom.

“Figured we might need one of these again.”

“Smart man.”

She watched as he rolled the condom over his thick cock, and then he came back over her body. The cool air of the room dissipated as his warmth cloaked her. He glided a hand from her collar bone, between her breasts, past her navel, and toward the curls on her mound. The warmth of his finger as it circled her clit drove her crazy, made her want to move against him, but his other hand anchored her waist.

Then suddenly, he dipped his finger into her pussy, and she bucked her hips. “Ohhhh, Tyler, deeper.”

“Jeanie, you’re so wet for me.”

He pushed his finger deeper into her core, and she bucked again. Her head thrashed, and she tried to reach for his cock, but he moved his hand from her waist to push her hands upward again. “Slowly,” he said.

“I can’t wait,” she said and let loose a moan.

Then his finger was gone, and the tip of his cock nudged her entrance. She could feel the heat of it. Her hips came off the bed to meet him as he slid deep, driving until she consumed him to the hilt in her, and then he followed with quickening movements, out then in, and deeper each time.

“Faster, Tyler, please.”

He groaned then picked up the pace. He shifted to place both hands beneath her, gripped her hips and hammered. She felt his fingers digging slightly into her hips but loved the feel of it. With all the strength she could muster, she wrapped her arms around his neck and held on as he slammed into her.

The muscles in her abdomen began to quiver, and then she exploded. “Yes, Yes, Yes!” she screamed as the climax overtook her. She swore she saw stars before she fell back onto the bed while Tyler slammed into her one more time then collapsed on top of her.

They both breathed deeply for a few minutes.

“I could get used to this,” he said, his voice slightly hoarse.

“I think we should find our own place,” she said then realized what she’d said and cringed inside.

He raised his head. One eyebrow arched. “I thought we were going to take it slow.”

She wrinkled her nose. “That just kind of slipped out. Heat of the moment, I guess.” She bit her lower lip. “But, don’t you think we should consider it? I’d kind of like having you close by.”

His expression gave away nothing. “You’ll see me every day.”

But then she noted a twinkle in his eye. One corner of his mouth twitched. He was teasing her! She glared.

Tyler chuckled. “Okay, we can start looking tomorrow.”