Chapter 2

Blaze knewthe moment Lily had stepped back into his town. There was something about her that called to him, like she was a siren song and he couldn’t help but answer.

It had been just over a year since he’d seen her last. Since she’d ridden into town on that wicked bike looking for her brother. Blaze had known Jacob Crow from his days in the military, and they’d been friends—back then. But the black ops missions their team had been part of had changed Jacob when he’d come back home, and Blaze had been surprised when Jacob had shown up in Laurel Valley looking for a place to hide. But Blaze took his duty and his oath seriously, and the only help he could give Jacob was to put him back behind bars where he belonged. So Jacob had fired off a shot that had missed Blaze by an inch and gone on the run.

Jacob had turned out to be a bad seed—alcohol, drugs, assault charges, bar fights…and attempted murder. Jacob Crow had gone too far, and no one could bring him back—not Blaze and not his sister, Lily. But Lily had still come after him, hoping he’d listen to her when she asked him to go back and face trial.

When Lily had stormed into his office demanding to know where Jacob was, Blaze had felt the bottom drop out of his stomach. He’d known from the first instant that she was his match in every way that mattered. But behind the bravado was a woman who was desperate to save the only family she had left.

Her face was a study. It shouldn’t have been beautiful—not if you looked at her features individually. Her face was angular and her cheekbones flat, attributing to her Native American heritage. Her nose was long and straight and her chin slightly pointed. But her eyes were what made a man lose his mind—exotic in shape and the color of dark chocolate, fringed with full black lashes. Thick brows winged above them, giving her a perpetual look of challenge.

She was tall—close to six feet—and her jeans had hugged her curves in all the right places. The belly-baring top she’d worn had shown a pierced navel, and the muscles in her arms were sinewy and lean.

He’d been struck speechless at the sight of her. He’d have done anything to keep her around longer, just to satisfy his curiosity and see if her lips were as soft as he imagined they were. To see if she felt the connection the same as he did. It had been a no-brainer to volunteer to help her search for her brother.

He’d never believed in love at first sight, but the moment he’d met Lily, that belief had been reevaluated. Their chemistry had been palpable—a living, breathing thing. And the heat that sizzled between them was hot enough to singe anyone who got too close. He’d had no control over his body in that instant, and that’s something that had never happened to him before.

“You’re under arrest,” he said. He didn’t recognize the sound of his voice, the low rasp of wanting. He’d missed her. More than he was willing to admit. Of course, his anger was bubbling to the surface pretty quickly. It’s not often a man gets married and then has his wife take off the morning after the honeymoon.

“Oh, come on now, Sheriff.” Her lips quirked as if they were sharing a private joke. “What am I under arrest for? Disturbing your peace?”

“I haven’t given you a second thought,” he lied. “But you skipped out of town after causing a brawl and left the River Rock Bar in shambles. You left the scene of a crime and never paid for the damages.”

She rolled her eyes. “That fight wasn’t my fault, and I am hardly to blame for all the damage that was done. If you remember, I believe we were otherwise—” she took a step closer to him and he felt the breath leave his lungs, “—occupied when the fight started.”

His eyes narrowed and his gaze hardened. “I remember,” he said. “A heck of a wedding night, wasn’t it? Or maybe that’s what you planned all along? Keep me distracted so your brother could escape.”

She froze at the mention of her brother. “I was perfectly content to stay naked in your arms all night long. You’re the one who chose to take the call. So I got dressed and went with you. He was my brother, and if you remember, I was there to bring him back to New York. There was nothing on my bingo card that said marry Blaze O’Hara.

“Jacob was looking for me. He’d heard I was looking for him and someone would have told him I was with you. He would have killed you if he’d found out what we’d done. I had no choice but to get him out of there and get him out of town.”

“It wasn’t your job,” he said. “I’m a cop. You’re a bounty hunter. You seem to forget that on a pretty regular basis.”

“You’ve certainly made sure I can’t forget it now. The cuffs are a little tight, by the way. I’d prefer not to have bruises tomorrow.”

“I’ll take them off as soon as I can get you in a cell.”

“You can’t be serious,” she said, freezing him with a glare. “You’re just mad because I had to leave while your hormones were still wanting more.”

“No, I’m mad because you never came back,” he yelled, louder than he wanted to.

She froze and stared at him like a deer caught in headlights.

They’d been on the street long enough to draw attention, so he moved her toward the station at the end of the street. Thank God for the incoming storm because hardly anyone was out and the streets were almost deserted. But he knew from experience it wouldn’t take long for word to spread.

She didn’t fight him, but he could feel her resistance. The walk gave him a chance to get himself back under control. He hadn’t meant to admit what her leaving had done to him. He wasn’t an impulsive man by nature. But one look at Lily and his future had flashed before his eyes. All he knew was that she was his, and he’d do whatever it took to make her his. He hadn’t expected her to agree to marrying him. It had been wild and reckless and crazy, and they’d dragged the justice of the peace out of bed and sworn him to secrecy.

He guessed neither of them had thought about the what after.

“Come on, Blaze,” she finally said. “We both know you’re not really going to arrest me. I’ve followed a skip into town.”

“If he’s smart, he’s finding a place to hunker down for the night. Storms will be here soon. And yes, I am going to arrest you. The last time I checked, there was a warrant out for your arrest. Destruction of private property?—”

“That’s crap and you know it. I was trying to get my brother out of there before he hurt anyone. The only reason that window broke was because I ducked when one of your upstanding citizens threw a chair.”

“Uh-huh. Watch your step here,” he said, leading her up the steps to the new sheriff’s office. “Don’t forget the broken bottles.”

“I’ll pay the twenty dollars to replace the bottle of Jameson’s I smashed over that idiot’s head who threw the chair. He could’ve killed me. Maybe I should press charges.”

“That’s certainly your right to do so. Of course, we’d have to hold you in the cell a little longer while we got it all straightened out.”

Blaze nearly grinned as he heard her growl low in her throat. Lily Crow in a temper was a fine thing to see.

“Give me a break. This is about your ego, plain and simple. You want good old-fashioned revenge. I had no choice in what I did that night and you know it. I had to get Jacob out of there before he hurt anyone. He might be my brother, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know what kind of person he is. It was better all around for us both to get out of town.”

“And now you’re back,” he said.

He gripped her elbow and turned her so their faces were only inches apart. He felt the tension, thick with what had been left unsaid between them. “Tell me, Lily. What was I to you? A lark while you were searching for your brother? Or a distraction who fell right into the palm of your hand? Did what we have ever matter?”

She lifted her eyes so the dark orbs were intent and focused solely on him. “You were the best thing that ever happened to me,” she admitted. “But sometimes the best things come with a price. Sometimes a person’s path is set before they ever take the first step. I never wanted to hurt you.”

The door to the sheriff’s office opened and the spell was broken between them. Colt O’Hara leaned against the jamb with his arms crossed over his chest and his piercing dark gaze narrowed.

A year hadn’t changed Colt’s appearance much. He was the boy next door. Handsome and friendly—golden brown hair and dark eyes—he reminded her of a golden retriever. As good looking as he was, he definitely wasn’t her type. But she noticed the gold wedding ring on his finger. That was a new addition. She knew he was a doctor and Blaze’s cousin, but other than that they had only had a few interactions.

“I had forty-two phone calls at the clinic since Lily rode into town,” Colt said. “I had to shut down the clinic, and Raven said I’d better get over here to make sure no one needed stitches. I’d suggest you two get in here before the whole town is standing in the middle of the street to watch the show.”

Blaze inhaled slowly and then exhaled, counting as he did so. He and Lily were forever plagued by interruptions. But Colt was right. Even now shop doors in town were opening and heads were popping out to see what was going on.

Lily turned to face Colt and gave him a cheeky grin. “Dr. O’Hara. I bet you thought you’d never see me again. Miss me?”