Cherise Sinclair - Edge of the Enforcer

Lindsey looked up as Melissa came in. “Hey.”

“Hey, sissie.”

As Melissa hung up her coat, Lindsey returned her attention to Emily. “You are definitely the smartest baby in the whole world.” Big brown eyes looked up as Lindsey nodded solemnly. “And the bravest. And prettiest.”

“And going to be the most conceited,” Melissa added in a wry voice. She came over to kiss her daughter’s head and give Lindsey a gentle hug before dropping into a chair. “You’re spoiling her, you know.”

“Yep. I can’t help it if you and Gary created a superior child.” As she made a buzzing noise against the little arm, Emily giggled.

“Her daddy totally agrees with you.” Melissa held her palms out to the fire. “Lordy, I hate mucking out stalls.” At Lindsey’s raised eyebrows, she muttered, “We gave the hands some holiday time.”

“Soft touch.” Lindsey pointed her finger at her sister. “Mama warned you ranching was a twenty-four/seven job.”

“I should have listened. She’s usually right…as long as she isn’t talking about sex.” Melissa rolled her eyes. “Remember when she told me I could get pregnant from kissing? How old was I? Seven?”

Lindsey snickered. “Well, sheesh, what kind of a tramp were you, smooching with Danny in first grade?”

“He gave me a Pokémon card,” Melissa said with dignity. “Of course, I kissed him.”

“Those were the days. You know, when I started dating Peter, she delivered the never-let-a-guy-past-first-base lecture.”

“Did I hear that spiel? Oh wait, I remember—you can’t get him excited because blue balls can be fatal.”

“Yep, that’s it. So then Peter gropes my boobs, and I worry all damn night if I should have told his mother—you know, in case she needed to call an ambulance.”

Melissa let out of scream of laughter.

“It’s not funny.” She scowled. “I thought I’d killed the poor boy with my slutty behavior.”

“Lordy, I’ve missed you.” Dragging in a breath, Melissa wiped her eyes. “I’m so glad you’re back. Have you been here all afternoon?”

The last few days had been hectic, and although her mother and sisters had come to San Antonio for a quick welcome home, Lindsey hadn’t had any time to talk. “Nah, only for an hour or so.” She grinned at her niece. “Enough time to get acquainted with your little flirt.”

“Ma-ma-da-da-aaa,” Emily responded happily and yanked Lindsey’s hair.

Melissa frowned. “Do you have to go back to San Antonio?”

The sound of Amanda gossiping about school came from the kitchen, and the scent of venison stew filled the air. Lindsey felt wrapped in the sounds and smells of home. “Nope. All the briefing stuff is done. I might have to testify at Ricks’s trial, but Stanfeld thought he’ll try to cut a deal instead.” She remembered the best news. “They located the Mexican boy who escaped. He was at a Catholic mission, and the priest figured out who he was. Juan backed up what I said, and he’ll be back with his family this week.”

“Excellent.” Melissa sipped her drink and frowned. “Seriously, though, are you safe now? Will Ricks come after you?”

“Agent Bonner says doubtful. The judge denied bail, and they’ve impounded all his criminal gains. Since he’s a cop, he’ll be occupied with trying to survive prison.”

“Oh. Right. You know, I don’t have a problem at all with him having to fight for his life.”

Her sister’s voice was too grim. Needing to change the subject, Lindsey nodded at the side window, where a low table displayed a wealth of African violet plants. “Thank you for rescuing my babies, by the way.”

“My pleasure. Nonetheless you owe me twenty dollars for bribing the housekeeper to fetch them out. Mandy is tending the snake and spider plants from your ranch house.” Melissa rolled her eyes. “She talks to them the same way you did. ‘And how are my snakes and spiders today?’ You two really are warped.”

“Hey, plants are sensitive,” Lindsey said in a self-righteous tone. “You have to be nice to them.”

“Did I hear Melissa come in?” Their mother appeared in the doorway. Her perfectly colored hair was clipped on top of her head, and she wore a trim slacks-and-sweater outfit.

Lindsey smiled as love surged through her. All Southern gentility and fussiness, and yet there wasn’t a sweeter woman in the world.

“Dinner will be in another hour. Lindsey, honey, I made you a margarita.” Her mother set the drink down on the coffee table. “Where’s Gary?”

“He’d started feeding the stock when I came in.” Melissa glanced at the darkening front windows. “He should be done soon.”

“Good timing. Mandy ran upstairs to have a quick shower.” Their mother beamed around the room. “It’s nice to have my babies all in one house again.” She patted Melissa’s head. “And even nicer someone else is stuck cleaning this monstrosity.”

It had all worked out wonderfully too. When their mother took a place in town, Melissa and Gary had chosen to live in the Rayburn house instead of his adjoining ranch. There was nothing like marrying the boy next door and merging ranches. And even though her sister had fallen for Gary way back in high school, their love had lasted.

Lindsey felt her pleasure waver. She hadn’t heard from Zander after leaving him at the hospital three days ago. Nothing. Of course, he couldn’t call her, since her cell phone was in a ditch somewhere on a snowy mountain. The problem was that the times she’d tried to reach him, he hadn’t answered his phone. Everything went to voice mail.

The hospital said they’d discharged him yesterday.

Maybe he’d managed to get the number here, though. “Did you check your messages today?”

Melissa rolled her eyes. “I started, but I can’t tolerate those: ’ This is so-and-so from the such-and-such paper.’ They filled my voice mail.”

“Right. Sorry. Give it another week, and I’ll be old news.” Tonight she’d listen to the messages.

The anxiety had her squeezing Emily so tightly her little niece giggled. Maybe Zander wasn’t interested any longer. No, that was silly. He’d almost died for her. Jeez, girl, stop being so vulnerable. There was an explanation why he didn’t answer his phone. Probably the battery’d died or something.

And hey, if he didn’t want her, he’d face her and tell her it was over.

The thought made her feel as if her heart had been trampled under a cattle stampede. Had been ripped and flattened.

No. That wasn’t it. They had something between them. It hadn’t disappeared because a half-a-continent and a few days separated them. She sighed. God, she’d be happy when her emotions weren’t bouncing around like grasshoppers on drugs.

Outside, the two ranch dogs set up a clamor. Melissa tilted her head. “Guess Gary finished already.”

A tap sounded on the door.

“He must have his hands full. Did you ask him to gather eggs, Mama?” Melissa opened the front door. “Hey, did you— Um, hi. Can I help you?”

Uneasy at the alarm in her sister’s tone, Lindsey handed Emily to her mother and hurried over. What if there were still bad cops around?

“Is Lindsey here?” The voice held more gravel than the road out front. Deep. Hard. Raw. Zander was here.

Oh my effing God. The shock was followed by such surging joy she felt the air around her sparkle. She flew the last few feet.

And there he was. Standing politely on the porch, waiting for Melissa’s answer. He saw Lindsey, and his expression lightened. Heated. “Seems she is.”

Melissa turned far enough to look at Lindsey. Her eyes narrowed. “And seems there’s a tale or two someone missed telling.”