Wild: Wildfire by Cheyenne McCray

gaze to her, she smiled. “Hey, I believe in equal-opportunity rustlers, too.”
    “Could be.” Jake’s mouth quirked as he handed the cutters back to Jess. “Seems I remember seeing Kev Grand using a pair like this to fix his fence a few days ago.”
    Dee frowned. “Kev wouldn’t be involved with the cattle disappearing. He’s pushy and outspoken, but he’s just not the kind of guy that would pull a stunt like that. Besides, the damn rustlers are swiping his cattle, too.”
    Jake had to admit that he’d always known Grand to be an honest man, even if he was a sonofabitch. “Anyone else having problems with these rustlers?” Jake asked.
    Jess shook his head as he stuck the tool in his back pocket. “Only Grand, according to Ryan Forrester.”
    “Sheriff’s deputy, right?” Jake folded his arms across his chest. “Met up with him at Grand’s.”
    “Yeah.” Jess hooked his thumbs through his belt loops. “The rustlers seem to just go for Black Angus. Kev Grand’s the only other rancher who’s lost a few head, but nothing like Dean here.” A thoughtful look crossed Jess’s strong features. “Some neighboring ranches have Angus, but most have Hereford and Brahma. So far none have reported any stock gone missing.”
    Leaning back in her rocker, Dee propped her throbbing ankle on the hassock. “Sheriff’s department is so busy that they’re not giving us much attention.”
    “I’d better head on out.” Jess tipped his hat to Dee. “Got stock tanks to check.”
    A knock sounded at the door and Jess opened it. “Howdy, Catie,” he said as he touched his hat, letting the blonde walk through.
    “Hi, Jess.” Catie watched him leave and then sighed before turning to Dee. Her big chocolate eyes widened. “Oops. Sorry. Didn’t know you were busy.”
    “Not at all.” Dee tried not to grit her teeth. She was usually glad to see her best friend, but right now she wanted to be alone with Jake. The taste of him was still in her mouth, and it wasn’t near enough.
    After Dee introduced Jake and Catie to one another, Jake leaned over and brushed his lips across Dee’s. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    Disappointment eased through Dee. But dammit, she wasn’t going to beg. “All right.”
    He brushed his finger over her nose and then whispered in her ear. “And don’t forget. If you’re a bad girl, I’ll have to play desperado and tie you to your bed.”
    “Promise?” Dee asked when he pulled away.
    He winked and headed on out the door.
     

Chapter Seven
    Dee paused from mucking out Imp’s stall to wipe sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. A cool October breeze stirred the loose hair at her cheeks and chilled her skin.
    It was Thursday, almost exactly two weeks since her injury. Her ankle still felt a little stiff and sore, but as far as she was concerned, she had recovered and didn’t need help from anyone—no matter what Jake Reynolds might think.
    The rustlers had left her cattle alone the past couple of weeks, thank God. But unfortunately, she’d heard of neighboring ranchers having lost several head of their cattle. When she’d asked Jake if he’d heard any news, he’d just given her his usual answer, “The Sheriff’s office is working on it.”
    Butterflies tickled her belly as she realized Jake would be arriving soon and at the same time, a twinge of regret that they’d come to the end of their agreement.
    No. Not regret. She was thrilled that she didn’t have to put up with his desperado routine any longer. Dee grimaced and swatted a fly away from her face. Yeah, right. In truth, she’d miss having him around.
    Imp butted her thigh and she reached down to scratch the calf behind his ears. “You’ll miss him too, won’t you?” she murmured. The devilish spark was still in his eyes, but he was no longer bent on plowing down anyone who came near him.
    Dee sighed and got back to work cleaning the calf’s stall. Barn smells of hay, horse and manure comforted her.