made her jump, but she forced herself to turn to him again. “Nothing’s wrong.”
“You know, one of the first things they teach rookies is to notice a perp’s expression. Always watch the ones who won’t look you in the eye—but pay equal attention to the ones who stare you down.”
“I told you, nothing’s wrong. When I said nothing matches, I just meant we don’t have anything in common anymore.” She rose from the stool. If he caught her eye again, he would trap her in that lie.
A few hurried steps past him took her into the barn, where she hoped the cool shade would ease the flush in her cheeks. What she would need to cool the rest of her, she didn’t know.
Yes, she had lied. She and Mitch had plenty in common. A mutual interest in each other. Leftover lust from their summer together. And somehow, a spark that survived despite the fact she had left him without a word.
* * *
STUNNED BY HIS close encounter with Andi, Mitch stayed in place on the stool.
He’d been so wrapped up in the idea of seeing her again today, he had spent most of the morning exercising his leg on a slow walk through town, made only a brief trip to the sheriff’s office after lunch and found himself sitting outside the school waiting to pick up his sister the minute the final bell rang.
Now he had arrived at the ranch, things hadn’t gone nearly the way he’d planned.
A black stallion trotted into the stable yard. Mitch recognized the cowboy astride the horse—Pete Brannigan, his former wrangling buddy and now the manager of Garland Ranch. By the time Pete dismounted, Mitch had risen to his feet.
The other man approached him, leading his mount. “Jed told me you were back in town. Been a heck of a long time, Mitch.”
“Yeah, it has.”
As they shook hands, Eddie came to lead the horse away. Mitch noted Laurie walking beside the boy. He tried not to notice Andi and her son emerging from the barn. She nodded at Pete before turning away.
The foreman eyed him. “I’m glad you stopped by. If you’ve got time, how about you give me a chance to shower, then come on over for a brew?” Pete lived in the manager’s house on the property, barely the length of a couple of baseball fields from the corral.
“Sure. Jed wanted us to get together. We might as well kick back while you tell me what that’s about.”
“Not a clue,” Pete said. “I saw him around noontime, but he didn’t say a word. You’ll have to find out from him for us both. Hey, Andi,” he called.
She turned back to face them. Mitch saw how carefully she kept from looking his way. No matter what she said, there was something not right. He’d have to prove that to himself...to make up for the last time he hadn’t followed his instincts.
“The boss was looking for this former cowboy earlier. Take Mitch along to the Hitching Post and help him track down Jed, will you?”
When she nodded, Pete strode into the barn.
At a much slower pace, Mitch walked to catch up with Andi and her boy. One look at her brittle smile and suddenly rigid shoulders told him how she felt about having him join them. She couldn’t have cared that much about escorting him to the hotel. Maybe she was afraid of giving herself away.
No matter how quickly she’d backed off from him and run into the barn, it had been too late. He’d already seen the truth in her widened eyes and reddening cheeks, just as he had in her reaction to his touch over at the corral. She wanted him just as much as she had years ago. But something was bothering her. Holding her back. Something she didn’t want to share with him, and maybe with anyone.
“You cowboy?” her son asked.
The kid must have remembered Pete calling him a former cowboy. He shook his head. “No, I’m a cop.”
“What’s a cop?”
“A policeman. You know, like a sheriff. With a uniform and a badge.”
“A badge? Mine.”
Andi took his hand. “You borrowed Robbie’s badge, Trey, remember?”
“Mine,” the kid repeated.
Mine, Mitch had once thought when it came to the kid’s mother.
Wishing something so didn’t make it happen. He’d first learned that years earlier with Andi’s abrupt departure. He’d had his latest lesson only a few weeks ago during an undercover op shot to hell.
Feeling he had failed in both instances didn’t sit well with him at all. He couldn’t save his partner, but he sure could try to find out what troubled Andi.
* * *
“JED IS OUT by the honeymoon cabins, I think,” Paz told them. “Tina wanted to show him something the workmen had done.”
Sagging in relief, Andi rested one hip against the kitchen table. With her son’s short legs, the walk back to the hotel had seemed to last forever. She and Mitch had discovered both the sitting room and Tina’s office empty. Now, thanks to Paz, she could send Mitch off on his own.
“Looks like you’re busy in here,” he said.
Paz nodded. Cooling racks filled with cakes and cookies had taken over almost every flat surface. The kitchen smelled of cinnamon and cloves. “It’s never too early to start my Christmas baking.”
“Cookie, Paz,” Trey demanded.
“What do you say?” Andi prompted him.
“Please.”
Smiling, Paz took a cookie from one of the racks.
“Let’s go track down Jed,” Mitch said.
Andi frowned. “You can do that on your own. I’ll stay here with Trey.”
“I think I’ve forgotten how to get to the cabins.”
She glanced at him, then away again. After what he had said about cops, she didn’t know which was worse from his perspective, locking gazes with him or refusing to look his way at all. She knew what was better for her. Looking. Staring. Getting her fill.
Better for her, but much too risky.
“That’s fine, Andi,” Paz said. “You leave Trey with me and go right along with Mitch.”
“Great,” he said, halfway across the room without waiting for her answer.
Grimly, she followed him out to the porch and down the steps. He took his time, favoring his bad leg. Despite her irritation with him, she had to bite her lip to keep from asking how much he hurt.
She was so wrapped up in concern for him, she hadn’t realized he’d reached the bottom step. He turned back, catching her off guard. Instinctively, she bit down harder, then winced from her own pain.
“It is
