worked with the tri-county cybercrimes task force for five years and successfully headed up complicated investigations.”
She saw Cord curl his fingers on one hand and shove the other in his hair that was the color of wheat bread, but with blonde highlights from all the time he spent outside. At least she thought he was still an outdoors kind of guy, but then she didn’t know him anymore, now did she? She did know the old Cord would have made the same suggestion and maybe even gone a step further to actually find a way to have her removed.
He released his hair and looked at her dad. “I have an idea, Sheriff. I have some vacation time coming. I could take time off to work alongside Kendall. I’ve been a detective for four years now and might even be able to teach her a thing or two.”
“No.” She couldn’t work with Cord. The attraction was still there, and he’d just proved he hadn’t changed. He was still too controlling for her liking.
“Sounds like a good idea to me,” her father said. “Nothing better than getting firsthand training.”
“Cord is not going to be training me,” she said through clenched teeth.
“You’re right.” His lips quirked up in a devastatingly handsome smile. “But if you learn something along the way, what’s the harm in that?”
“Good.” Her dad clapped his hands. “It’s all settled, then. You and Cord will partner on this investigation.”
Wait, what? Settled?
Right. She’d failed to reaffirm her stance of not wanting to work with him. She’d only voiced her unwillingness to let him take over as her trainer, and her dad took that as acceptance. Now there was no changing his mind. Not when he was even more stubborn than she was.
She fixed her gaze on Cord. “This is my county. I’m in charge. We do what I say, when I say it. No running off in your own direction and cutting me out.”
“Me?” he asked, feigning surprise. “I’d never do anything like that.”
Yeah, right. I know you, bud. Don’t forget that. How she wished she could say the words aloud, but with her father standing there, she’d have to settle for a look that put Cord in his place.
He held up his hands and took a step back. “Message received.”
Her father glanced between them. “Am I missing something here?”
“No,” they both answered at the same time.
Her dad continued to eye them, but finally shook his head and muttered, “Young people.”
A tall medic carrying a backboard stepped into the doorway, and he looked at them for direction on how to proceed.
Kendall crossed over to him. “Thanks for responding. You were called for me, but I’m fine.”
“No, she’s not.” Cord joined them.
“Doesn’t matter,” she said, keeping her focus on the medic. “I’m not going to take the time to be checked out until after this scene is processed, so you might as well take off.”
The medic glanced at her father. For her entire life, everyone had looked to her dad for answers. As a kid, she’d appreciated that. Was even glad for it a lot of the time as an adult. Just not when it came to something she could handle on her own.
Kendall met his gaze. “I’ll go to the ER when I’m done.”
“Promise?”
“Yes.”
“Go on, then,” he said to the medic, who all but ran from the house like a guilty child finding reprieve. Her father turned to Cord. “My wife, Winnie, would have my hide if I didn’t invite you to stay at the ranch while you’re in town.”
“I don’t know.” Cord cast Kendall a questioning look.
“I don’t think—” she got out before her dad interrupted.
“We’ve turned Trails End into a dude ranch since you lived here, and you can stay in one of the cabins.”
Kendall didn’t bother telling her father that he hadn’t checked to see if they had an opening. She was in charge of the reservations and knew they did, but she would still like to be consulted on this. On the rest of her life, too.
“I don’t think it’s such a good idea,” she said, but her father raised a bushy eyebrow.
Without knowing her history with Cord, he probably thought she was being mean-spirited over Cord wrangling his way into her investigation, but she couldn’t tell him she was just trying to preserve her sanity.
“Actually, it sounds great,” Cord said. “Six months ago, I took guardianship of my twelve-year-old nephew. I think he’d love to hang at the ranch if you wouldn’t mind. He should be fine on his own while I work with Kendall.”
Dad? Cord, a dad? Her mouth almost hit the floor. Not that she didn’t think he could be good at it. He might be controlling, but he had a warm, compassionate side, too. A side that fueled his determination to help others on the job. That was the side she’d fallen for. She’d even once thought about having kids with him someday. But that dream evaporated, as it would be hard to parent with someone who also had such an inflexible side to his personality.
Her father waved his hand. “No worries there. Someone’s always at the ranch, and he’ll have people around.”
“Then I accept.” Cord stuck out his hand.
His father shook. “When should we expect you?”
“I’ll head back to Houston to get Lucas after we finish up here and be back first thing in the morning.”
“I’ll make sure we have a cabin ready for you.” Her dad suddenly frowned. “You see that Kendall follows through on going to the ER, hear?”
“Yes, sir,” Cord said.
“And she may not like me to say this, but like I said before, this guy could come after her. Means we need to keep an eye on her, too. Just in case.”
Kendall resisted sighing. “I can take care of myself, Dad.”
“I know you think you can, but I like to be extra careful when it comes to my girls.” Her father drew her into his arms. “Thank goodness you’re all right, honey.”
She hated being treated like a helpless female in front of Cord but accepted her dad’s warm hug and didn’t try to fight. He tightened his hold, bringing back memories of the many times she’d skinned her knees as a child. Tears started pricking her eyes. She blinked hard to get control of herself before she faced Cord again.
Cord. He was back in her life. Really back in her life.
She’d thought her connection to him had ended years ago, but had it? Not if his touch told her anything. No, that said she still felt something for him, and she would need to be diligent not to wind up with a shattered heart again.
