Chapter Four
T-Rex entered through a side door that led into an open gymnasium with brick walls and basketball goals on either end.
A woman stood in one of the open doorways off the side of the gym, a baby in her arms. “Oh!” She blinked several times. “I was expecting Sierra. Who are you?”
His lips twisted into an ironic grin. “Apparently, I’m Sierra’s boyfriend.”
“He’s kidding.” The woman he’d rescued from her ex-husband entered behind him, carrying a tiny red-haired girl. Sierra’s cheeks were rosy and her blue eyes bright. “Clay assumed he was my boyfriend.” She shrugged. “I didn’t disavow him of that assumption.”
“Like I said. I’m her new boyfriend.”
Sierra’s friend stared at him, her eyes narrowing. “Wait. You’re one of the new guys in town working with Kevin Garner, aren’t you?”
T-Rex nodded and set down the children in his arms and then swung the little boy off his shoulders to his screaming delight.
As soon as he set him on the ground, the boy reached up. “Do it again! Do it again! Please?”
T-Rex lifted the boy high into the air and swung him back to the ground.
The other toddlers all raised their hands, shouting, “My turn!” at the top of their lungs.
“Okay, children,” Sierra called out over the commotion. “Mr. Trainor isn’t here to entertain all of you. Let him go about his business. Go on and play.” She set the red-haired girl on her feet and shooed her and the others toward the tumbling mats scattered across a corner of the gym. Once the children had moved away, Sierra held out her hand. “Thank you so much for coming to my rescue.”
He gripped her small hand in his, and a shock of electricity raced up his arm. His gaze connected with hers. Had she felt it? Her eyes widened for a second, but other than that little bit of motion, she didn’t indicate recognition.
Her lips curled upward in a smile. “Are you done with my hand?”
T-Rex immediately released her and jammed his hand into his pocket. “My pleasure.”
“Seriously, Sierra,” the woman with the baby on her hip said. “You haven’t met the men from the team of military guys who helped save us when the bus was hijacked?”
She shook her head. “Actually, I haven’t. You remember. When that happened, I was out with the flu.”
“You’re the one they called T-Rex, right?” The woman walked forward. “You might not remember me, but I’m Brenda Larson. We met in front of the Lucky Lou Mine a few days ago, after the showdown with the Vanders boys.”
T-Rex shook her hand. “I’m sorry. I don’t remember.”
“I can understand. There was a lot going on.” Brenda’s lips thinned and she glanced at Sierra. “Be glad you were sick that day. I still have nightmares.”
Sierra shuddered. “I’m so sorry for Mrs. Green. Her husband was such a nice man.”
“Mr. Green, the bus driver?” T-Rex asked.
Sierra and Brenda nodded.
“It was a shame. He didn’t do anything to deserve being shot,” T-Rex said.
“Well, don’t let us keep you, Mr. Trainor,” Sierra said. “Thanks again.” She stepped back, out of his way.
A baby’s cry had Brenda moving toward the door she’d come out of. “That’s my cue. Nice to see you again, T-Rex.”
T-Rex shook his head and glanced around. “I understand the County Records office is somewhere in this building.”
Sierra nodded. “You have to go back out to the front of the armory to get to their offices.”
“This was an armory?”
“It used to house a small unit of the Montana Army National Guard. When they moved out, they donated the building to the town. Now it’s the Grizzly Pass Community Center.”
He swept the gym with another assessing glance. Now that she’d mentioned it, he could imagine a military unit holding formations in the gym when the weather outside was too cold, wet or snowy. A twinge of regret filled his belly. While he was pretty much playing the civilian Stateside, members of his unit were putting their lives on the line in some godforsaken country on the other side of the world. His fists clenched. “Nice that the building could be useful.” As much as he’d like to talk to the pretty woman with the long, wavy blond hair, he had work to do. The sooner they figured out who was at the bottom of all the troubles in Grizzly Pass, the sooner he could be back with his unit.
Besides, it would do him no good to get close to a female. His career was with the US Marine Corps. And he’d seen the devastation a career in the military could wreak on a family. He couldn’t do that to a woman, any more than he could do what Sierra’s ex-husband had done to her. No, he was single for a reason. Career military men had no business dragging families along with them.
“I’ll be going. If your ex gives you any more trouble, you can call me. I’ll be happy to step in as the protective boyfriend for as long as I’m here.” As long as that was as far as it went. He didn’t say it, but he thought it, specifically to remind him he wasn’t in Grizzly Pass to start anything. He was there to finish it.
He spun and walked out of the building and around to the front, where an entrance led into a hallway with what had once been the offices of the officers and enlisted men who’d run the unit. Now the doors were marked with the names of businesses. He found the one marked County Records and entered.
With the help of the clerk, he found the surveys and plats of the properties bordering the oil pipeline running through the hills on the south side of Yellowstone National Park.
He snapped photos with his cell phone, and on a notepad he jotted down the names of the people or corporations who owned the land. When he was finished, he tucked his notepad into his pocket. “Thank you,” he called out as he left the office. He’d been there for over an hour. He knew he should go straight to his truck and leave, but he couldn’t without first checking on Sierra. Back around the side of the armory, he found the entrance to the gym and day care.
Sierra stood with the little red-haired girl and a woman with equally red hair who had to be the child’s mother.
“She took a nap after the commotion, but she might continue to be distressed,” Sierra was saying. “I’m so sorry it happened in front of the children.”
The mother held her daughter close in her arms. “I’m just glad you’re okay. Don’t you worry about us. Take care of yourself.” The woman turned and stopped, her eyes wide. “Oh. I didn’t hear you come in.” Her eyes narrowed and she shot a glance back at Sierra. “Do you know him? I can stay if you need me to.”
Sierra smiled. “I know him. He’s the one who chased Clay away. The kids love him.”
As if on cue, the little red-haired toddler reached her arms up to T-Rex. “My turn.”
Her mother frowned.
“It’s okay.” Sierra nodded. “T-Rex had them all wanting a turn.”
Eloisa leaned farther out.
T-Rex grabbed her before she fell from her mother’s arms. “Do you mind?”
“I guess not.” Eloisa’s mother gave him a confused smile. “She doesn’t usually go to strangers.”
T-Rex swung her up into the air and back to the ground, then up again.
Eloisa giggled and laughed. When he handed her back to her mother, she clapped her hands and held them out. “Again.”
“Sorry, sweetie.” Her mother straightened the child on her hip and hiked her diaper bag up onto her shoulder. “We have to get home and cook supper.” She smiled, waved and exited, leaving Sierra alone in the gym with T-Rex.
“Are all of the others gone?” he asked.
“Everyone but me.” She retrieved her purse from a chair and slipped it over her shoulder. “I get to lock up tonight.”
“I’ll wait.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I know.” He waved a hand, indicating she should lead the way.
“Really. I can do this on my own.”
He touched her arm. “Look, you’re giving chivalry a bad name. After what happened today, I would feel better knowing you made it home safely.”
Her baby blue eyes sparkled, and her cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink. She pushed her long blond hair back over her shoulders. “Okay, then.” She led the way to the door.
T-Rex’s gut twisted and his groin tightened as she sailed past him, her slim hips swaying ever so slightly in her tan slacks.
He liked what he saw. Normally he would go after her and ask her out on a date. But his usual MO was to date and ditch. Based on what he’d witnessed of how her ex-husband had treated her, he couldn’t do that to Sierra. She needed a man who treated her like a princess, with all the love and caring she deserved. This woman was strictly off-limits.
She led him out of the building, closed the door and locked it behind them.
“So, you’re here with the others who’ve been loaned to the Department of Homeland Security?” she asked as they walked side by side to their vehicles.
“I am.” He paused beside her older-model sedan and waited for her to pop the locks. When she had, he opened the door for her.
She glanced up at him. “Thank you for all you did today.”
“You’re welcome.” She stood so close he could smell the subtle scent of her perfume. If he leaned forward just a little, he could capture her mouth with his. His pulse quickened and his gaze slipped from her shining blue eyes to those soft, full kissable lips.
“I... I’d better go. It’s getting dark.” She slipped into the car, closed the door and started the engine.
T-Rex stepped back, telling himself he was a fool to even think about kissing the woman. She was on the rebound from a bad marriage. He’d be doing her a favor to stay out of her life.
Sierra lowered the window. “If ever I can do anything for you, don’t hesitate to ask. I owe you big-time.”
He nodded, tempted to collect on her debt by requesting a kiss. Instead, he shook his head. “No repayment required. Just being a good citizen. I’ll follow you to make sure you get home okay.”
“This is a small town. It’s not necessary.” She smiled and backed out of the parking lot.
T-Rex waited until she disappeared down the winding drive heading away from the community center. Then he climbed into his truck and drove to his temporary quarters at a bed-and-breakfast off Main Street.
As he pulled into the parking lot, he noticed that one of the other vehicles parked at the very end looked familiar. He parked and got out. Could it be? He entered the big, rambling colonial home the owner had converted into a six-room bed-and-breakfast. Standing in the large living area was Sierra, talking to the owner, Mrs. McCall, two suitcases on the floor beside her.
She looked up as he entered, and her brow furrowed. “You didn’t have to follow me.”
“Mr. Trainor, I’m glad I caught you. I hope you don’t mind, but I had the handyman here today. He worked on the balcony door to keep it from sticking.”
“Thank you, Mrs. McCall,” he said, his gaze on Sierra, not the owner of the bed-and-breakfast.
“Oh, have you met Miss Daniels?” Mrs. McCall asked.
T-Rex nodded. “I have had the pleasure.”
“She’ll be staying with us while her apartment is being renovated.”
He nodded. “That’s nice. You’ll love Mrs. McCall. She makes the best scones this side of the pond.”
Mrs. McCall blushed. “Oh, you’re too kind. Thank you.”
“No need to tell me about her scones.” Sierra smiled and patted Mrs. McCall’s arm. “I’ve been eating Mrs. McCall’s scones since I was a little girl visiting her with my mother. And you’re right. They’re wonderful.”
“Thank you, sweetie.” Mrs. McCall smiled and pushed back her shoulders. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, my program is coming on television and I don’t want to miss it.” She winked. “An old woman needs something to look forward to.” She scurried away, entering a door marked Private.
“Let me help you.” T-Rex grabbed the handles of the suitcases.
“I can do that,” Sierra said, reaching for the cases.
“I know you can. But we’ve already had this discussion about chivalry. It isn’t dead. At least not where I’m concerned. My mother taught me better.” He headed for the stairs. “What room?”
She gave him the number, and his brows rose. It was the room next to his. He wanted to groan, but he didn’t say anything. She’d find out soon enough.
For a man who didn’t want to start something with the pretty day care employee, the odds were stacking against him.
“I didn’t know you were staying here,” she said as she followed him up the stairs.
“In a town as small as Grizzly Pass, the lack of hotels forced us to scatter out among the few privately owned establishments.” He stopped in front of the door to her room and stepped back to allow her to use her key in the lock.
She entered and held the door for him to carry her luggage through.
T-Rex set the two cases on the wooden floor and turned. “Welcome to the McCall house.”
Sierra giggled. “You don’t look like a bellboy, but I appreciate the help.” She reached her hand into her purse and dug around. “What do you require in the way of a tip?”
He laid his hand on her arm. “No money. Just this.” Before he could stop to question his motives, he lifted her chin with the tip of his finger and claimed that kiss he’d been thinking about since she’d left him at the community center. One quick, toe-curling kiss. That was all he wanted and he’d be out of her way.
But it didn’t happen like he planned. As soon as his lips touched hers, fire exploded in his belly and his blood ran like heated mercury through his veins, angling downward to his groin.
He raised his other hand, cupped the back of her head and deepened the connection.
She laid her hands on his chest, but she didn’t push him away.
And he was glad she didn’t. Because, now that he was kissing her, he didn’t want it to end.
* * *
SIERRA HAD BEEN shocked and tinglingly aware of the man when he’d stepped through the front door of the bed-and-breakfast. She’d completely forgotten what she’d been saying to Mrs. McCall. All she’d been able to do was stand there and stare at the broad-shouldered hero with the reddish-brown hair and hazel eyes, and just barely been able to stop herself from drooling. He was the kind of man every girl dreamed of. Tall, dark, handsome and willing to fight for her honor.
Now he stood in her room, kissing her. Her knees trembled and she curled her fingers into his shirt, pulling him closer. She raised up on her toes, deepening the kiss of all kisses. Clay had never kissed her like this. Like she was special and the only person in the world. She pressed her body into T-Rex, loving the hardness of his muscles against her soft curves. He was a man a woman could lean on in tough times. He didn’t need to have his ego stroked to make him feel more of a man.
His tongue darted out, tracing the line of her lips. She couldn’t resist him, opening her mouth to allow him in. Part of her felt a little guilty. She had to remind herself she was single now. She could kiss anyone she liked. And she liked kissing this one.
He caressed her tongue with his, gliding in and out, taking her along on a rising wave of passion. The only thing that could have been better about that kiss was if they were both naked. Skin to skin.
Heat built low in her belly. An intense ache made her sex clench and her body long for more. She felt more alive than she had in years, and it was all due to this stranger, who asked for a kiss for his tip.
All too soon, T-Rex lifted his head.
Sierra dropped back onto her heels and glanced down at where her hands crumpled his shirt. She licked her swollen lips, tasting him on them. “Well, that was quite the tip,” she managed to say, appalled at how squeaky her voice sounded.
“I’d apologize,” he said, his tone low and husky. “But I can’t. That was incredible.”
She nodded and dared to look up into his eyes. Then reality set in. Having divorced only six months before, she wasn’t sure she was ready to get right back into a relationship. If anything, her seven years of marriage to Clay had convinced her that she wasn’t very good at long-term commitment, or was she just terrible at choosing the right man for her? Either way, it was too soon.
Sierra backed away. “I have to ask you not to do that again.”
He nodded. “Agreed. It wouldn’t be a good idea for you to get involved with me. I won’t be around for long, and, despite our little charade, I’m not very good boyfriend material.”
Sierra hadn’t expected him to agree with her so quickly. Disappointment filled her chest. Pushing back her shoulders, she lifted her chin. Why should she care? He’d only confirmed her desire to avoid anything sticky growing between them. Still...
He turned and walked toward the door.
Before he crossed the threshold, she asked, “Why?”
He stopped and half turned toward her. “Why what?”
“Why do you make bad boyfriend material?” She shouldn’t be interested in his answer, but she was and she waited for his response.
He shook his head, a hint of a smile tilting his lips. “Trust me. I’m no good for you, or any other woman.” With that, he walked out of the room and shut the door.
All of the starch leached out of Sierra’s shoulders and she sagged, raising her fingers to her mouth. Holy hell, the man could kiss. Her brows dipped and her eyes narrowed. And what kind of nonanswer was that? I’m no good for you, or any other woman.
Her curiosity aroused and left unsatisfied, she yanked one of the suitcases up onto the bed and began the task of unpacking. Within minutes, she had both cases emptied and her meager belongings stored in the dresser and closet. Six months ago, she’d left most of what she owned with Clay, taking only what she could carry in the cases. The apartment she’d been living in had come fully furnished. Unfortunately, the roof had sprung a leak in the last rain. Not only had they had to repair the roof, they’d had to rip out the drywall and flooring due to water damage and mold. She wouldn’t be allowed back into the apartment until they’d completed all of the repairs and mold remediation. Thus, the move to the bed-and-breakfast.
The night was still young, the sun having barely dipped below the hilltops. She could lie there and reminisce or go find something to eat.
Grabbing her coat and purse, she headed for the door, slung it open and nearly crashed into T-Rex. “Oh, sorry.”
He steadied her with his big hands and then dropped them to his sides. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” She stepped back and willed her heart to slow.
“I was coming to see you.”
“You were?” Her pulse leaped again.
T-Rex dug in his pocket and pulled out a device that fit in the palm of his hand. “I want you to have this.” He reached for her hand and placed it on her palm.
“What is it?” she stared down at the gadget, her heart banging against her ribs at the touch of his hand beneath hers.
“A stun gun.”
Okay, so it wasn’t a diamond bracelet, but seriously, what man gave a woman a stun gun as a gift? “How does it work?”
He turned it over and pointed to the button on the side. “You switch it on here. When someone gets close enough to you, you push this button and stick it to him.”
“And then what?”
“He will lose muscle control and balance and become disoriented. It will disable him for up to thirty minutes.”
“Wow.” She held it out. “Sounds dangerous.”
“The effects aren’t permanent. It gives you a chance to get away. Carry it in your hand when you’re alone, like when you’re locking up at the day care and walking out to your car. If your ex ever pulls a stunt like he did today you can be ready to take him down long enough to get away. One jolt from this baby and he’ll think twice about harassing you.”
She stared at the device and then glanced up at him. “That’s about the nicest gift anyone has ever given me.”
He laughed out loud. “Better than roses?”
“Much.” She slid it into her purse, careful not to switch it on in the process. “I’m not sure I have the nerve to use it, but it will make me feel better knowing I have it in case I need it.”
“Were you heading out?” he asked.
“I was just going to find something to eat. Normally, I fix a salad and eat at home.” She grimaced. “But that won’t be an option while I live in the bed-and-breakfast. I miss my apartment already.”
“I was about to go to the Blue Moose Tavern. Care to join me?”
She smiled and shook her head. “So much for avoiding each other. I think it will be nearly impossible in such a small house.”
“No need to. I promise—” he held up his hand as if swearing in court “—not to overstep your boundaries without your permission.”
“In that case, I would love the company. I hate eating alone.” She led the way down the stairs and out of the building.
Once outside, he glanced around as if looking for something or someone. “I don’t see your ex anywhere, but we should probably keep up appearances.” T-Rex held out his hand. “Girlfriend?”
She hesitated, staring at his big, open hand. Knowing it would only be for appearances, it shouldn’t be a big deal. But as soon as she placed her hand in his, the electricity of his touch zipped through her body, pooling low in her groin. Yeah, being this close to T-Rex could only lead to trouble.
At that moment, she didn’t care.
Together, they walked the three blocks to the Blue Moose Tavern and asked the waitress for a table.
Once seated across from T-Rex, her hand in her own lap and no longer touching the man, Sierra’s thoughts settled from the scramble they’d been since she’d kissed him. He was just a man. The first man she’d kissed since her divorce. Surely there would be more, and she wouldn’t make such a complete fool of herself over the next.
The waitress brought them their drinks—a glass of red wine for Sierra and a draft beer for T-Rex.
Sierra lifted her glass. “To new friends.”
He touched his mug to her glass. “To new friends.”
They sipped and stared over the tops of their respective drinks.
Sierra had to focus on staring into his eyes and not letting her gaze fall to his sensuous mouth. For a long moment, she struggled to come up with something to say that wasn’t kiss me. Finally, she knocked back the rest of her wine and set her glass on the table. “Tell me about yourself.”