Wildcat (3 page)

* * * * *

It was late afternoon by the time Catie was close to finishing her daily chores in the barn behind the old ranch house. The sun hung low over the Mule Mountains and the air smelled of fall, mixed with barn smells of dust, manure and alfalfa hay.

Humming softly to herself, Catie raked out Sassafras’s stall. Sass was a dappled appaloosa mare that more than lived up to her name, but to Catie the ten-year-old horse was like a member of the family. Sass had distinctive cream-colored knee-high stockings on her front legs, but her back legs were solid chocolate brown, as was most of her coat where she didn’t have cream spots. A diamond blaze was on her sleek muzzle, and she had a mischievous spark in her intelligent brown eyes.

Catie loved to ride whenever she got the chance. It had been her favorite activity as she was growing up. Her way to escape the world and her fucked up family life. She’d done pretty well in rodeo competitions, even beating Dean MacLeod a few times in barrel racing.

A few stalls down from Sass was Shadow Warrior, a champion stallion they’d had for eight years. They’d had to sell the rest of their horses when things got tough and they couldn’t afford the feed or maintenance any longer. Warrior they used primarily for stud service, a way to add a little cash to their income. And Sass, well, there was no way in hell Catie would ever let her go.

The mare hung her head over the side of the next stall and lipped Catie’s short blonde hair. “Cut that out.” She grinned and shooed Sass away with a playful pat on the mare’s muzzle. Sass whickered and tossed her head, acting for all the world like she was laughing at Catie.

The entire morning, all Catie had been able to think about was the stranger who’d brought her to orgasm last night. She had never let
any
man under her skin, and it was starting to irk her that she couldn’t get one little sorta-sexual encounter off her mind. Maybe it was the fact that all he had done was finger-fuck her, and then he’d vanished into the night.

Yeah, that was it. Curiosity at what it might be like to actually have sex with the man. The man who had a voice so deep and sensual it sent shivers through her just thinking about it. The man who’d obviously had a cock big enough to please.

After Catie’s experience with the stranger, even Jess Lawless, Dean MacLeod’s new foreman, didn’t seem half as intriguing as before—and Jess was one hot cowboy, with an incredibly sexy drawl. Catie had been flirting with Jess since she met him, but for some reason he’d kept his distance. She might be forward, but she didn’t outright chase any man. No man was worth
that
much trouble.

Tingles skittered along Catie’s spine and she stopped raking as the thought of another incredible hunk crossed her mind.

It couldn’t have been
him
. Could it?

Day before yesterday, when she’d met Jarrod Savage, the new sheriff, she’d soaked her panties the instant she’d laid eyes on him. She hadn’t been able to speak at first, she’d been so totally captured by lust. He had the most amazing crystalline green eyes, an incredibly deep and thrilling voice, and the sexiest mustache…

Dogs barking and the sound of a truck driving up to the ranch jerked Catie from her fantasizing. She propped the rake up against the stall door, pulled off her leather work gloves and tossed them onto a hay bale. Wiping her hands on her jeans, she stomped her boots on the hard-packed dirt floor to kick loose some of the manure.

“Be right back, girl.” Catie patted Sass’s neck and headed toward the open barn door.

She paused in the shadows, and her heart rate picked up when she saw a truck with the county sheriff’s logo park in her front yard. And then a warm flush stole over her as that fine-looking lawman climbed out of it…Jarrod Savage, the new county sheriff.

Oh. My. God.

It couldn’t have been him last night.

Damn—it had to be.

As she watched the sheriff stride from the truck, Catie tugged on her ear, a nervous habit she’d had since she was a child. Sheriff Savage walked up to her brother, Steve, who was standing in front of the house.

He smiled and shook hands with Savage, and Catie wished she was closer so that she could hear what they had to say. If she wasn’t so sweaty and didn’t smell like the barn, she would have strolled right out. She wanted more of what she knew that sheriff could give her.

Damn, but that lawman was one hot hunk of male. Tall, broad shoulders, narrow hips and a tight ass. She had a side view of him, and couldn’t tell what color his hair was because of his Stetson, but he had a sexy sable mustache and nice big hands. She liked a man with big—

As if aware of her, Savage looked straight to where she was hidden in the shadows. The world stopped on its axis, and for one long moment, she all but forgot how to breathe.

Prickling erupted at Catie’s nape and the fine hairs stood up on her arms.

He couldn’t see her, could he?

Her heart beat faster as his eyes seemed to lock with hers. But then he turned back to Steve and continued talking like nothing strange had just happened.

Nothing
had
happened. Surely it was just her desire and thoughts of what happened last night that was making her crazy.

Catie eased back into the barn, her skin tingling. Her normal I-don’t-give-a-damn-what-anyone-thinks attitude had suddenly taken a hike. She was sweaty, probably had dirt streaked across her face and smelled like a horse—not to mention the horseshit. As much as she was dying to get to know that sexy lawman, now was
not
the right time.

Biting her bottom lip, Catie yanked on her gloves and set back to work, determined not to sneak another peek at the gorgeous man outside.

Sass whickered and moved her head up and down in a kind of horsey nod, as though telling Catie she should go out and see him anyway.

Catie glared at her. “What do you know?” she muttered. “You’re just a horse.”

In response, Sass snorted and blew snot all over Catie’s shirt.

“Brat.” Catie swiped at it with her gloves and managed to wipe the worst of it off. “See if you get your sugar lump later.”

* * * * *

He’d found her.

Jarrod knew it deep in his gut that Catie was there as soon as he’d driven up to the Wilds Ranch. While he talked to Steve Wilds about the rash of cattle rustling that had struck other ranchers in the area, Jarrod’s instincts had kicked in. And then he’d
felt
Catie watching him from the barn.

He pushed up the brim of his hat and turned his attention back to Wilds. “Anything unusual happen on your property that you’re aware of?” Jarrod asked, watching Wilds for any sign of recognition or discomfort at the questioning. “Anything at all?”

“Other than losing fifteen head of cattle the other night?” Wilds shook his head, his manner calm and amiable. “Nothing more than the fence being cut a couple of times. Between the Flying M and our ranch. Jess Lawless, the foreman over at Flying M, he’s been riding the line just like me, but we can’t catch the bastards in action. ”

Jarrod nodded. “Mind if I talk with your sister?”

With a shrug, Wilds jerked his thumb in the direction of the barn. “Cat’s probably working with her appaloosa.”

After thanking Wilds and shaking the man’s hand again, Jarrod strode toward the barn. Blood thrummed in his veins, the same feeling he always got when he was close to solving a case. For over ten years he’d been a street cop and then a detective with the Tucson Police Department. He’d served with TPD from the time he was a rookie until he’d decided to move to the southeastern corner of Arizona to take over as Sierra Vista’s Chief of Police, some six years ago.

Needing a new challenge, Jarrod had decided to run for Cochise County Sheriff and the previous fall had beat out the troubled incumbent, John “Bull” Stevens, by a hefty margin. The papers were making a bid deal over the cattle rustling, and Jarrod was determined to seek out the culprits and lock the bastards up.

In a few strides, he made it to the open barn door. Even before he walked into the barn, Jarrod heard the sound of a rake scraping against the ground and a horse’s soft whicker. When he entered, he stopped for a moment, allowing his eyes to adjust to the dimness. His gaze immediately focused on the petite blonde who had her back to him and was raking out a stall.

Jarrod smiled and his cock jerked to attention. He would recognize that fine little ass anywhere…even clothed.

The appaloosa raised its head and eyed Jarrod, but Catie didn’t seem to realize he was there. Just like last night.

He eased up behind her and caught the scent of her vanilla musk, mixed with her own unique smell. “Hello, Catie Wilds.”

Catie gave a small shriek and whirled around. She clenched the rake to her chest, her big brown eyes wide. “What the hell did you sneak up on me for?” She raised her chin and took a step back. “You like to have scared the crap out of me.”

Damn, but she was cute, right down to the sprinkling of freckles across her nose, and Jarrod couldn’t help but grin. “You gonna hit me with that thing?”

She glanced at the rake handle and back at him. “Depends.”

Jarrod raised an eyebrow. “On what?”

“If you ever do that again.”

As she stared up at the man, Catie took a deep breath and tried to calm her scattered thoughts and the pounding of her heart.
Omigod,
it was him. That incredible voice and those mesmerizing crystal green eyes…she was definitely in lust.

“Why don’t we try this again.” His mustache twitched as he smiled and held out his hand. “It’s good to see you again Ms. Wilds.”

“Ms. Wilds?” She propped the rake against the stall door, pulled off her gloves and tucked them into her back pocket. “Don’t you think we’re a little beyond that, Sheriff Savage?”

“Yeah.” He took her hand, and damn if his touch didn’t send tingles straight to her pussy. “After last night, I hope you’ll just call me Jarrod.”

His eyes swept over her, lingering on her aroused nipples poking against her thin T-shirt. Her breasts were small enough that she didn’t feel the need to wear a bra all the time, and right now she felt almost naked under his gaze.

Catie, who had never found herself at a loss for words around a man, once again couldn’t think of a thing to say, just like the first time she’d met him in his office. Her body vibrated with awareness and need, and all she wanted to do was get naked with him.
Now
.

“Well?” He released her hand and brought his fingers to her face. She felt him lightly brushing dirt away from her cheek. “What do you say?”

She leaned into the touch of his hand against her face. “Yes.”

Jarrod cocked an eyebrow and cupped her chin with his hand. “Yes…what?”

“Whatever you’re asking,” she murmured, her eyes focused on his, “the answer’s yes.”

A slow, sexy smile crept over his face, and his voice dropped to that seductive pitch that made her knees weak and her panties oh-so-wet. “If I wanted to kiss you, that’d be all right?”

Catie brought her hand up to the copper sheriff’s star pinned to his shirt, and traced it with her finger. “Damn straight.”

He moved closer, so that his muscled body was a fraction from hers, so close she could feel the heat of him through her T-shirt and jeans. “What if I said I wanted to fuck you, Catie? Right here in the barn. You’d say yes?”

She kept her gaze locked with his as she placed her hand right on the bulge beneath his jeans, giving him his answer. He sucked in his breath as she trailed her fingernails up and down his impressive length. God he was big, and did she
ever
want him.

Jarrod dropped his hand from her face as he fought to control the lust building up within him. “If you’re not careful, little wildcat, I might just take you up on what you’re offering.”

“Oh?” Catie’s chocolate brown eyes sparkled with sensuality. “What’s stopping you?”

“Only the fact that I’m on the job.” He resisted the urge to taste those sweet lips that pursed into a sexy smile. “And the fact that your brother and someone else are real close to walking in on us.” He jerked his head toward the barn door to where he heard the sound of voices coming closer.

“Ah.” She lowered her hand from his crotch and grinned. “Works for me.”

“About that ‘yes’…” Jarrod stepped away, putting some distance between them before unwelcome company arrived. “Dinner tomorrow night—I’ll pick you up at seven.”

She didn’t even hesitate. “What should I wear?”

And neither did he. “Exactly what you had on last night.”

Catie shivered as Jarrod moved away from her to the barn door to talk with Steve and the man she had formerly lusted over, Jess Lawless, the Flying M Ranch foreman. Catie couldn’t help but enjoy the view as she watched the gorgeous sheriff talk with Jess and Steve. Jess was another example of prime U.S. male with dark brown hair, blue eyes that could make a woman beg, a Bruce Willis adorable grin and a sexy drawl that would soak a gal’s panties.

Yet now that she’d met Jarrod Savage, Catie didn’t even feel a twinge of lust for Jess anymore. Well, that was strange. She’d never had any problem maintaining multiple lustings before.

“Someone tried to steal Dean MacLeod’s new prize bull again,” Jess was saying to Jarrod. “Imp. The yearling. Damn near caught the bastard in the act, but he got away on horseback. Again.”

Catie’s attention snapped from thoughts of fucking the sheriff to concern for her friend’s ranch. She walked up to the men, feeling like a pixie in the land of the giants. “Is Imp all right?”

Jess looked down at Catie and gave her that grin of his that used to make her knees feel like gelatin. “Hey there, Catie.” His friendly smile vanished as he answered her question. “Yeah, the little shit is fine. But that’s the second attempt this week. Somebody’s got a real hard-on for that bully-boy. Guess because he’d fetch a helluva price.”

He turned back to Steve and Jarrod. “Dean MacLeod left town for a week with Jake Reynolds. My thinking is that the thief knew she was out of town, so that’s why he picked last night to strike again, not counting on me being around.”

“Their trip sure was sudden-like,” Jarrod murmured.

Steve shook his head, laughter in his brown eyes. “Well, if you’d seen those two before they left…my guess is they’ve found themselves a hotel room and won’t be seeing daylight for a while.”

Jess snickered. “Ain’t that the truth.”

Catie had to laugh, too. The last time she’d seen Dean was at dinner a couple of nights ago, and Jake had come storming in only to throw Dean over his shoulder and practically kidnap her. Steve, Jess, and Catie had been left alone to finish dinner and clean up the mess—not that anyone complained. The men were more than happy to polish off every bite of the enchiladas. Dean had called briefly to say that she and Jake were going on a little trip, and she’d call when they returned.

Jarrod smiled, but his expression went serious again. “So there’s a good chance that the perp is someone who’s around enough to know what’s going on at the ranch.”

With a nod, Jess replied, “Yeah. But the question remains—is this stuff with Imp tied to the rustling, or is it a separate deal?”

“All these times, no one got a good look at the fella?” Steve asked as he took off his western hat and ran a hand through his thick blonde hair.

Jess frowned. “No, damn it. This morning I followed the tracks up into the mountain range behind the Flying M, but lost ‘em once I got to the running water. There’s been so much rain the past couple of days that all the washes are full, and it was easy for him to hide his horse’s tracks by staying in the water.”

“Why don’t I head over to the MacLeod ranch with you?” Jarrod stroked his hand over is mustache and Catie imagined what it would feel like to have that hand stroking her, instead. “I’d like to check everything out myself.”

Lawless stiffened, like he’d taken offense, but he said, “Suit yourself. Check out whatever you want, but I’ve given it a real thorough once over.”

Check out whatever you want.
Catie studied Sheriff God-body.
No shit. Can’t wait to check out every inch of
that.

Jarrod’s eyes met Catie’s and for a moment she was sure he’d read her mind. He smiled and tipped his hat. “See you later, Catie Wilds.”