Justice Inked (Cowboy Justice Association 7) Read online

  He pressed a quick kiss to the tip of her nose. “Let me get this over with and then you and I can have some time alone.”

  Trailing after him as he reentered the front of her shop, Rayne had to admit she was curious as to what Tim and Sophie saw that day. This might be the break they’d been waiting and hoping for.

  Chapter Nineteen

  “How about these seats?” Rayne pointed to the back row of the movie theatre. They’d driven all the way to Bozeman to see this movie so they didn’t have to sneak around. But out of sheer habit they were still doing it. Not wanting to argue, he nodded and they slid into the chairs, settling their popcorn and sodas in the armrest slots.

  Dare was tired of sneaking around. For the past two weeks, he and Rayne had been meeting in out of the way places to keep their relationship private. At first it had seemed like the prudent thing to do. The gossip in Valley Station traveled faster than light and a tidbit about the sheriff dating the sexy tattooed newcomer was sure to be tasty. The more salacious the better.

  But now it was starting to feel sleazy the way they skulked around as if they were ashamed of one another. The fact was Dare was proud as punch to have Rayne on his arm. He’d learned a thing or two about the fierce little lady since they’d begun dating, and most of it he liked.

  Sure, she was outspoken and a trifle loud about her opinions but it came from a place of passion. When she spoke about abused children and animals or the environment, her eyes would light up and she’d get this fierce expression that made his dick painfully hard and his heart flip flop against his ribs.

  She hugged hard and kissed harder. She didn’t pick at her food like so many women and she could play video games as well as he could. She smelled like vanilla and rain and her skin felt like the softest satin under his fingertips. Unfortunately, he hadn’t explored every inch of her flesh yet but he lived in hope. They’d been taking it slow and he was at the end of his proverbial rope. He needed her, wanted her, ached to bury himself deep inside her. She was on his mind constantly when he should be working or sleeping. He had it bad and the only cure was to get the little lady in the sack. Once he’d sated his hunger things would go back to normal.

  “Popcorn?” Rayne held out the oversized tub and he grabbed a handful, bending his head to drop a kiss on her cheek in the dark theatre. The lights had dimmed and the previews had started. Grinning happily, she settled back into her chair and rested her head on his shoulder. She’d told him the previews were her favorite part, which cracked him up. She could watch those on her laptop for free but she said it wasn’t the same as on a big screen. It was cute that something that simple made her so happy.

  The romantic comedy wasn’t his kind of film and he ended up spending most of it watching her watch the movie. In the flickering light, her expressions would go from happy to sad in an instant before turning to angry. When the lights finally came up she was dabbing a tissue at her eyes.

  “That was so good. Didn’t you love it?”

  He was a lousy liar, especially with this woman. She could see right through him without breaking a sweat. “Um…I think it was a chick flick, babe. But I’m glad you liked it.”

  She pushed against his shoulder and giggled. “Too mushy for you, big guy? All that lovey-dovey stuff too icky with girl cooties?”

  Girl cooties? This girl was seriously adorable. He was becoming quite fond of those purple streaks in her hair and the half dozen ear piercings.

  “I like a man’s movie,” he boasted with a grin. “Car chases. Maimed bad guys. And explosions. Lots of explosions.”

  She slapped her forehead and laughed loudly, causing a few heads to swivel but they only displayed indulgent smiles.

  “I’m sorry this movie was too touchy-feely, but how about I make it up to you and buy you some ice cream? Any flavor.”

  Dare pretended to ponder the offer. “Hot fudge and whipped cream?”

  “Deal,” Rayne instantly agreed. “But there’s no cherry in this scenario. That’s long gone.”

  Choking on his laughter, he led them out of the theatre and to the truck. He hadn’t had this much fun in years.

  * * * *

  Rayne sighed contentedly as she ate the last bite of her hot fudge sundae made with mint chocolate chip ice cream. Dropping the plastic spoon into the paper cup, she sat back in her chair and patted her full stomach.

  “That was delicious. Are you enjoying yours?”

  While Rayne had ordered a medium-sized sundae, Dare had teasingly ordered a jumbo since she was paying. Of course she wasn’t surprised that he’d managed to put a major dent in the sweet confection; his appetite was legendary and she’d seen him put away massive quantities of food.

  “I am. So much so that it’s almost gone.” He pushed the paper cup across the table, closer to her. “Want a bite?”

  Rayne wrinkled her nose. “I’m not a big butter pecan fan, especially when you’ve mixed it with hot fudge. I would have gone with caramel.”

  “It was a toss-up, but fudge usually beats everything else. This marshmallow cream is pretty good too.”

  He had strange taste in ice cream, but he was so enthusiastic about it she thought it was sweet.

  “Is there anything else you wanted to do while we’re here in town?”

  “No, do you? I guess it is getting late.” Dare checked his watch while a spoonful of hot fudge dripped back into the cup. “It’s a long drive back so we should get on the road.”

  “That sounds good.” Rayne slid her purse strap onto her shoulder. “I’m just going to run to the ladies’ room before we leave. I’ll be right back.”

  “No problem. I’ll check messages.”

  Dare pulled out his phone and scrolled through his texts and Rayne couldn’t help but wonder what the human race had done to look busy before cell phones. Talked to each other, probably.

  The bathroom was located down the end of a long hallway and she ducked into the ladies’ room and quickly took care of business before touching up her lip gloss. With one last look in the dingy mirror she headed back to the table. A man wearing jeans and a dark hoodie heading in the other direction brushed against her and she stepped to the side, only to have his arm wrap around her middle like a steel band, her breath lodging in her throat.

  Before she could react he’d latched onto her purse, tugging it toward himself in an attempt to steal it but she wasn’t a pushover. Adrenaline surging with a fight or flight response, she remembered a few things from her self-defense class in college, yelling “fire” and trying to knee him in the groin or elbow him in the solar plexus. She wouldn’t give up her handbag without a fight although her palms, slick with sweat, made it difficult to hold onto the soft leather.

  The massive size and strength difference put her at a huge disadvantage and her heart accelerated in her chest as she ineffectually wrestled for dominance, his large hands bruising her arms. In seconds, she found herself slammed down on the cold, unforgiving tile, her shoulder and hip taking the brunt of the fall. Wind knocked out of her, she struggled to take a breath as the thief sprinted away and out of the side door, hopping into a truck that had pulled around the building and speeding into the night.

  “Christ, are you okay?”

  Dare was leaning over her, pulling her to a sitting position, and she winced when his fingers ran across her shoulder. She was going to have a hell of a mark there from this special little interlude.

  “I’m…okay. But he got my purse.” It took effort to even speak and she sucked in oxygen to hopefully keep the room from spinning. “He got away.”

  Growling something under his breath, he ran his hands down her arms and legs. “We’ll call the police but I’m more worried about you right now. It doesn’t look like anything’s broken but you might need to go to the hospital. Did you hit your head?”

  Rayne raised her gaze from the gray tile and almost passed out again at the sheer rage in Dare’s expression. It was probably just as well that the slimy thief had managed
to get away because the man before her looked capable of ripping a body from limb to limb.

  “No. I’m just banged up. Can you help me to my feet?”

  They’d attracted quite the crowd in this tiny hallway and she was feeling claustrophobic. Dizzy, hurting, and still fearful, she needed fresh air and some space. Instead of giving her a hand, Dare simply scooped her up into his arms, bridal style, and carried her over to a booth in a quiet corner of the shop. The manager was fluttering around them, apologizing in one breath and bitching about her job in another. Apparently she’d wanted to be a dancer.

  “The cops are on their way. Can you tell me what happened, babe?”

  “Some guy grabbed my purse and made a run for it. I tried to fight him off but he was too strong. He must have had a friend to help him because he jumped into a truck and they peeled out of here.”

  Dare was scowling again, the smiles and laughter left behind. “A little thing like you probably didn’t have much of a chance. I’m just glad you’re okay. I’ve done a shit job of taking care of you tonight.”

  Rayne ran her fingers over the wrinkles in his forehead. “It isn’t your job to take care of me. Besides, I’m fine. But I may need your help when we get back to town. I don’t suppose you know how to break into a house? My keys were in my purse and I don’t cherish the thought of sleeping on the porch until the locksmith can get there.”

  His gaze dropped to the floor, and if anything his expression turned darker. There was a hell of a lot more going on here. He smoothed her hair back and tucked a few strands behind her ear.

  “I was on the phone when you were attacked, which is why I didn’t get to you immediately after you yelled.” He sighed heavily and stood, sliding into the booth next to Rayne, his arm around her shoulders. “I was talking to Deputy Billy, hon. Someone broke into your house tonight. Coupled with what happened here? I don’t think this purse snatching was an accident. Somebody wants something you have or they think you have.”

  Fuck me. This seriously can’t be happening.

  Chapter Twenty

  Rayne’s home looked like a tornado had run through it. Cushions on the floor, drawers pulled open and the contents tossed, and every item in her closet thrown on the floor. They’d even stripped her bed and cut into her mattress, pulling out the innards.

  What in the hell were they looking for?

  There was no doubt now that the person in her shop had been searching for something in particular. Something they thought she had and they wanted enough to kill another human being for it. But she had no idea what it could be.

  Thankfully the burglar hadn’t hurt Spartacus, who she found crouching under the bed. It had taken both her and Dare to coax – make that drag – him out. The feline had added a few scratches to her bruised body, but he was now nibbling on some cat food and allowing one of the deputies to pet him.

  She hadn’t even realized tears were running down her face until Dare was dabbing at them with a big white handkerchief. “Easy there, babe. It’s going to be okay. I promise you.”

  “Liar,” she whispered, shoulders shaking as powerful emotions welled up and came out in the form of sobs. “This is about as awful as it gets. They’ve fucked up my house, shop, and they’ve stolen my purse. I’m pissed off. They don’t get to do this to me.”

  She cried when she was angry, so it looked like she was sad when in actuality she wanted to punch someone in the dick. It didn’t help that every step she took was pure agony after the body slam she’d been subjected to in the ice cream parlor. Her left side hurt like a bitch. She was going to sport a lovely mixture of purple, blue, and black tomorrow.

  “You need to sit down and I still think you need to see a doctor. You can barely move, woman.”

  He was growling again but she didn’t argue as he led her to a chair in the kitchen. Her sofa and recliner were destroyed, long cuts in the fabric and the stuffing thrown everywhere. Her gut clenched painfully at the thought of some stranger pawing through her belongings, including her lingerie.

  Assholes. Perverts.

  There was a special place in hell for whoever did this.

  Rayne cupped Dare’s jaw and turned his face so she could look into his icy blue eyes, almost silver-gray in this light. “I want you to find who did this and kick their ass.”

  “I promise. But you can’t stay here tonight. The forensic team is really just getting started and your bed is destroyed anyway. I can take you to my place or I can call your sister.”

  Camy would have kittens if she saw Rayne beat up like this, but staying at Dare’s seemed so…intimate. She was already panting after him and sleeping under the same roof wouldn’t make things any better. “I can stay at a motel.”

  “You cannot stay at a fucking motel.” Dare’s brows were pulled down and his forehead wrinkled. “You need someone to keep an eye on you. If you don’t want to worry your sister then you’re staying with me.”

  Rayne didn’t have the energy to argue and she simply nodded, gathering her sweater around her more closely, suddenly feeling cold and vulnerable. She didn’t know what these people wanted, and if they didn’t find it she didn’t know what they’d do. Tonight they’d only knocked her down but later she might not be so lucky.

  “Why don’t you pack a bag? You might be at my place for a few days. It may take awhile to get this all cleaned up.”

  That was an understatement. It would be easier to bulldoze the place down and start again.

  Carefully she stood, putting most of her weight on her right leg before slowly walking back to her bedroom. One glance at the utter devastation and her stomach lurched dangerously, sending her directly to the bathroom to hurl her hot fudge sundae, buttered popcorn, and bacon cheeseburger into the toilet. Sliding down to the floor with her back propped against the bathroom vanity, she grabbed a towel and wiped her mouth, groaning at the acrid taste on her tongue.

  Gross. She hated throwing up and avoided it all costs.

  “Jesus, I’m taking you to the doctor right now. No arguments.”

  Tears leaked down her cheeks and it was hard to breathe with the feeling of helplessness weighing down on her chest like a lead balloon. The fight had leaked right out of her and all she wanted to do was curl up in a ball on her bed and sleep for a week.

  Except her bed was demolished. Shit, she didn’t even have a place to be depressed. How sad-sack was that? Right now she was a big old loser.

  Dare scooped her up again just as he had at the ice cream parlor and carried her back into the bedroom, setting her on the torn-up mattress. This was becoming a habit and she kind of liked it. He was so much bigger and stronger than she was he could literally pick her up and put her anywhere he wanted to and she hadn’t given him a whisper of protest either time. She had a feeling it was something that was going to happen quite a bit.

  “I’m fine. Whenever I’m upset it goes straight to my stomach. What I need to do is brush my teeth.”

  Standing in the center of the room, Dare’s gaze darted to each corner of the devastation and then back to her.

  “I can pack for you if you like. What do you want to take?”

  Rayne reached out her hand and he placed his in hers, their fingers tangling together. His hand was big and warm and just the thing to make her feel slightly sane in the midst of all this chaos. She was glad she was going home with him. It was truly the only place she’d feel safe.

  “That…person who was here touched everything. That’s what made me boot my dinner and snacks. I can’t wear clothes that he’s fondled. I have a gym bag in the trunk of my car with a change of clothes and some toiletries in it. I’ll just take that. Tomorrow I’ll buy new clothes.”

  The way she felt at the moment there wasn’t enough detergent in the world to get her clothes clean enough to wear again. They were tainted and held bad memories. As far as she knew there wasn’t a stain remover strong enough for bad karma.

  “It’s going to be okay.” Dare knelt down in front of her,
his hands resting on her knees. “I know you’re freaked out right now but I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

  Scraping her hands down her face, she sniffled at the tears she was trying to hold at bay. “What in the hell do they want? What are they looking for?”

  “We’re going to find out.” He swept a few stray tears away from her cheek. “I’m going to ask something of you, Rayne, and I know it’s going to be hard but I want you to try. I need you to trust me. Can you do that? Can you trust that I’m going to keep you safe and find out who did this?”

  Experience with men in the past told her that ultimately she couldn’t depend on anyone but herself to take care of things when the shit went down. Hadn’t her mother constantly harped on the fact that a woman had to stand up and take care of herself? It had been ingrained from an early age.

  But her heart was telling a different story. It wanted to extend that trust Dare was asking for and believe when he said he would protect her. As an adult woman, it wasn’t often she needed to ask for safety but this was an exceptional moment. She couldn’t do this on her own and even if she could, it wouldn’t be easy.

  “I trust you. I do. It’s just not my normal behavior to hide behind someone like a scared little girl.”

  “It might not be normal but, honey, it’s smart. You’re being targeted and we don’t know why. Until we do, I’m going to have a guard on you every moment of the day. You’re going to get good and sick of my company.”

  “Not before you get sick of mine. I’m used to living alone and I probably have some anti-social habits.”

  For one, she snored. She also liked to eat right out of the refrigerator and she was bad about cleaning up after herself. She also liked to fall asleep watching cheesy television. None of these behaviors would endear her to a roommate.