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14
Jessica
Something was wrong with her. Jessica could feel it in her bones. She’d almost kissed him. Maybe it was the situation they’d found themselves in. She frowned. She hadn’t felt like her life was in danger since she’d gone to bed that night he took her from the restaurant. For some reason the ranch made her feel like nothing bad was going to happen to her.
It was the mountain air. It had to be. Something about riding the trail to the ridge had messed with her head. She’d get down to the ranch and everything would be clearer.
Ian led the way on the trail, sitting tall in his saddle. Her stomach churned as her thoughts returned to that moment they’d shared. Why did she feel so much closer to him than she had Tucker?
He was a mystery, and yet it felt like they’d known one another for years instead of months. She didn’t believe in soul mates. That was ridiculous. But spending even twenty-four hours with Ian was beginning to change her mind. There was a reason her heart raced when he met her gaze. The thrill she experienced when his hand brushed hers. All of it pointed to one thing.
She was crushing on him hard. Jessica let out a frustrated sigh. Would he have gotten mad if she had just gone for it? What would he have done if she’d just stood on her toes and kissed him? Her fingers briefly touched her lips, imagining what it might be like to feel his mouth pressed against hers.
The scenery passed by her unnoticed. By the time they neared the ranch, she’d come to the conclusion that the only way to get Ian out of her head was to kiss him and be done with it. It was only a kiss, after all. And if it was more? She’d tackle that when she came to it. There were relationships built on less, after all. She’d started dating Tucker after spending only a few hours with him. She’d surpassed that qualifying factor with Ian already.
They arrived in the clearing, and in an instant her plans changed. A sheriff’s car was parked near the main house. It was partially obscured, but even she recognized it. Ian stopped Charcoal and held up a hand to prevent her from riding Brown Sugar farther.
He let out a quiet curse. “I told Sean to butt out. He promised he’d give it a few days.” He glanced over his shoulder the way they’d come. “Maybe we should head back. I could leave you somewhere safe and come get you when the coast is clear.”
Jessica snorted. “Like that’s going to happen. If the sheriff is here, he’s got a reason. Maybe he knows something.”
“What if he’s in on it?”
Her face scrunched up in disbelief. “You don’t really think that, do you?”
Ian frowned, his focus shifting to the car. “No. But I wouldn’t put it past those people to figure out a way to use the sheriff to their advantage.”
“Have you considered that the sheriff might be here because he’s paying a friendly visit?”
Ian snorted. “Sheriff Donahue doesn’t pay friendly visits. I can almost guarantee he’s here because of what happened yesterday. They’re probably here to take you down to the station.”
“It’s fine. We can get this part out of the way and see what he says. Besides, I’ll probably be safe if I’m with them.”
Ian scowled. “When was the last time you saw a movie where the witness was perfectly safe from the drug dealers? You’re not going anywhere. Those men could be waiting for you to show up in town again. Do you honestly think they’ll care if you’re with law enforcement?”
Her eyes flitted to the scene before them. “Well, we can’t just stay here.”
His features tightened and he sighed. Nudging Charcoal with his heels, Ian led the way down the trail.
By the time they arrived at the barn, a group was waiting for them. Sean, Cal and Brock stood beside a man in a sheriff’s uniform. Ian tugged on his reins, stopping his horse. Then he dismounted and moved to her side. Like before, he placed his hands on her hips and helped her down. Sparks of fury shot from his gaze as he met Sean’s eyes.
Ian grasped her hand and tugged her behind him. “Don’t worry,” he muttered. “I won’t let them take you off the premises.”
The sheriff nodded to them. In his hands he held a notepad and a pen. “Ian. How are you this afternoon?” The warm smile on his face did nothing to hide the seriousness as to why he was at the property.
“Sheriff.” Ian turned his attention to his brothers. “We had an agreement.”
Sean raised his hands. “I didn’t say anything. He just showed up.”
Ian’s hand tightened around hers. That was a surprise, and Ian didn’t like it. Her heart rate sped up. If the sheriff had figured out who’d been at the diner and followed them here, that meant the drug dealers would too.
Jessica inched a step behind Ian. She hadn’t given him much credit. She’d thought he was even a little paranoid. But that thought went down the drain in a split second. Scanning the property with new eyes, she sought security but found none. This place was new to her. She’d have to take Ian’s word it was easy to protect.
Her stomach knotted and twisted, sending a surge of bile up her throat and making her slightly light-headed.
“I’m not an idiot, Sean. You wanted to call Sheriff Donahue from the moment you’d heard I was shot.”
The sheriff’s brows rose, and he scribbled something on his notepad.
