Shane
Evernight Publishing
www.evernightpublishing.com
Copyright© 2014 Vanessa Devereaux
ISBN: 978-1-77130-739-0
Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs
Editor: Kerry Genova
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
DEDICATION
In Memory of Freddie Thompson
SHANE
Big Sky Cowboys, 1
Vanessa Devereaux
Copyright © 2014
Prologue
Marie closed and then locked the café door. She turned and walked toward her car, momentarily looking up at the night sky. Not a cloud in sight, but there was a definite chill in the air. Fall had arrived in Montana. It was her favorite time of the year. She put her hand on the handle of the car door just as a flash of light caught her attention. She glanced up again.
A shooting star projecting through the sky held her attention. She hadn’t seen one of those since...since her husband had proposed to her over forty-eight years ago. It was beautiful, so perfect, and she was spellbound as it traveled on its path to the west. Her mother had told her if you were lucky enough to spot one you could make three wishes.
Marie got into her car and was about to start the ignition, but then stopped. Her mother had never been wrong about legends and tales. Her father had often joked and teased her about all the silly tales her family had brought with them from the old country, but sure enough if her mother made a prediction or told you something, like the legend of the shooting star, it turned out to be true.
Leaning on the steering wheel so she could see more of the sky through the windshield, she caught her last glimpse of the star before it descended behind the mountain range.
What three wishes would she ask for?
She had everything, but her three sons didn’t. They were all bachelors, and while they might never admit to being lonely, she knew true love was what all her children really wanted.
“Okay shooting star, my three wishes are that Flynn, Rory, and Shane find the love of their lives. Women who they will fall quickly in love with, and who will love them back.”
She closed her eyes, wondering which one of her sons would be the first to find romance.
Chapter One
Maybe this hadn’t been such a great idea after all. Maybe she should pull out the atlas one more time and make her destination the second place her finger landed on. But no, that would be cheating. She said she’d go wherever fate, or in this case her finger, took her and she was close to that very location. Or at least she hoped she was.
Montana had been correctly named Big Sky Country. Lacey had driven for at least twenty miles and only seen a total of five other cars, trucks if you wanted to be nit-picky. She had seen lots of cattle, a few horses, and yes, lots of the big sky.
Beautiful, but frigging freezing.
Not that Boston was warm this time of the year, but it certainly was hotter than here.
She momentarily took her eyes off the road to turn up the car’s heater a notch. A blast of warm air hit her cheeks, but it was her fingers that were so damn cold, despite the gloves she was wearing. People back home whined about the weather in New England, but this was something else. She might have guessed that at this high altitude it was going to be damn chilly.
She tapped her fingers on the wheel, thinking that might rev up the blood inside them and take away the tinge of pain she was now feeling in all her extremities. Maybe if she turned on the radio she could tap in time to the music which would keep her going just a little while longer. She pressed the switch and country music drifted through the speakers. She turned up the corner of her mouth and winced.
She hated county music, always had, and probably always would. But that was no problem, she just wouldn’t listen to the radio. But truth was, she loved music. She fiddled around with the radio’s buttons, trying to pick up something other than a crying in your beer type song, but the reception was poor. If only she’d put her CDs in the car and not the trunk. She’d pull out a few at the next rest stop.
Yeah, rest stops weren’t frequent things in Big Sky County either. Still, she’d be at her final destination soon. She glanced at the print out of the job she’d found online. It sounded interesting. It sounded fun. And best of all, it sounded like something completely different to begin the next chapter of her life in this ‘new to her’ part of the country.
The road began to head to the left and then up an incline, so she put her foot down on the accelerator. Once she got to the top and began descending again, she could see a town in the distance. Out in the middle of nowhere but so much the better. No memories, no distractions, no men, well, probably not the type who wore designer suits and ties. Yeah, the ones she’d always fallen hard for, and look where that had gotten her.
She hit the brakes when a herd of cattle began crossing the road ahead of her. Obviously it wasn’t traffic you had to watch out for in these parts, but animals who had no respect for who had the right of way.
The cows, or whatever they called them in Big Sky Country, weren’t in a hurry to go wherever it was they were heading. One stopped, turned her way, looked at her through the windshield and then simply moved on. A border collie suddenly ran up behind them, snapping at a few of the cows’ legs as he hurried them on their way.
Yeah, that’s it little guy move them off the road. Lacey blew into her hands again, and out of the corner of her eye, saw three guys dressed in full cowboy attire riding horses, heading up behind the cattle.
Two of them went ahead and crossed the road with the cattle while the third one circled the one remaining cow and coaxed it to join his buddies. The cowboy crossed the road just a few feet from the front of her car. Shit, he was gorgeous, dark brown hair, curling out from under his hat, muscular looking legs…
He suddenly pulled on the reins of the horse stopping it right in front of her left headlight. He put his hand up to his hat, nodded, winked at her, and then he moved to the other side of the road as if he had all day to do it. She watched as he slowly rode away from the car.
Great looking butt too.
Without warning, he turned around and gave her one last glance. It was almost as if he knew she was admiring his ass.
Lacey sat spellbound, unable to take her eyes off him as he went up the hill and then disappeared out of sight. She’d just seen her first cowboy up close and in person.
If they all looked like that she’d get her share of eye candy.
She hit the accelerator, reminding herself that she was here to start a new life. One of which didn’t include men.
****
Shane rubbed his hands together as he walked through the doors of the sheriff’s office. Outside it smelled and felt like snow was on its way. He poured himself a mug of coffee and carried it into his office. He sat at his desk, put his feet up on top, leaned back, and skimmed through today’s mail.
Some literature about upcoming seminars given by the Montana Sheriff’s Association, and a thank you note from Mrs. Nolan for his help getting her back into her car. There were also a few responses to the ad he’d placed for an office assistant/trainee deputy. He skimmed through them. Getting people to come live in such a small community was tough, but he knew the right person was out there. And he still had another couple of months before Mike, his current deputy, retired. Plenty of time to find a
suitable candidate.
“How many times have I told you about putting your dirty cowboy boots where I’ve just cleaned?”
Ruth pushed his feet off the recently polished wood, almost sending him flying off his chair. Sometimes she forgot who the real boss was around here, but where Ruth was concerned that was perfectly okay with him.
“Did you and your brothers manage to get all the cattle moved?” she asked.
Shane took a sip of his coffee before answering. “Sure did, and it was the perfect morning for it.”
“I don’t suppose Rory or Flynn is looking for another dog, are they? My daughter’s Lab just had another litter, and there’s one left.”
“I can ask, but even if they’re not, I might like to take a look.”
“And what happens to it when you’re working all hours of the day, and sometimes night?”
“Then I’ll have to bring him to work and make him my deputy.”
Shane put the mail down in front of him. “Doesn’t look like there’s much promise in this bunch of applicants.”
“Before I forget, someone did call about the job this morning and asked if it was okay to stop by for an interview, around mid-morning?”
“Fine with me. When they arrive, show them straight back to my office.”
Ruth walked toward the door but then turned back. “Did I happen to mention it was a female applicant?”
****
Lacey pulled her car up in front of what looked an office building. Back home the police department took up one whole block. The sheriff’s receptionist had told her to come in the front door and head up the stairs to the second floor, and the office would be directly in front of her.
She grabbed her purse and got out of the car, locked it, and then pulled the collar of her coat up close to her ears as she headed toward the door. A raw wind blew and took her hair into the air, temporally blinding her and almost causing her to walk into the building’s glass door. A few flakes of snow circled around her as she brushed her bangs back into place. She opened the door, rushed inside, and was happy to be out of the cold. Clapping her hands together, she made her way up the stairs. Just as the receptionist had assured her, the Timber Creek Valley Sheriff’s office sat across the hallway.
The wooden floor creaked as she headed toward the office. The glass paneled door was open, so she stepped inside and saw a thin faced woman, probably in her early sixties, sitting at a desk. She looked up and smiled when she saw Lacey.
“Hi, can I help you?” she asked.
“Yes, I’m Lacey Metcalfe, and I called about the job opening.”
“Yes honey, I told the sheriff you’d be stopping by.” She stood. “Come with me, I’ll take you back to his office. Can I get you some coffee?”
“That would be great. Milk, but no sugar.”
She followed the woman down a small passageway where it looked like there were three or four more rooms. The woman stopped and turned to the one on the left. The door was open, so she tapped on the wall.
“Shane, Ms. Metcalfe is here.”
“Great, show her in.”
“Go in, honey, and I’ll be right back with your coffee.”
“Thank you.”
Lacey stepped into the office. The sheriff stood, and she recognized him immediately. He’d been one of the cowboys herding the cattle, the one with the cute butt.
Not only a cattle herder but town sheriff too.
She’d gone from freezing to, too warm in seconds with her cheeks burning wondering if he recognized her. And worse still, remembered her ogling his ass.
“Hi, Ms. Metcalfe, I’m Sheriff Shane Malone.”
He stood and reached across his desk for her hand. She took it and looked into the most gorgeous blue eyes she’d ever seen. The almost matched the big blue Montana sky.
New life that doesn’t include men. Yeah, that’s my new mantra. Say it three times in quick succession and you’ll be perfectly okay.
His hand lingered on hers, and she noted how rough and calloused it felt compared to other guys she’d known. Would that be a plus or a minus when it came to touching her body?
New life that doesn’t include men. New life that doesn’t include men. New life that doesn’t include men.
She coughed, pulled her hand away and guessed that the mantra wasn’t working. Not that it was entirely her fault because he was so damn gorgeous.
“Have a seat,” he said.
She pulled up a chair, and he sat. She looked around his office, looking for photos of perhaps a wife and kids, but she couldn’t see one. Did her new life not include sex too, or was it just men?
The secretary chose that minute to head in with the promised mug of coffee, jarring her out of her inner thoughts. “By the way, my name’s Ruth.”
“Hello Ruth, and thank you,” said Lacey taking the mug from her. The warmth of it felt welcome as she curled her fingers around its circumference.
“You’re welcome.” She left and pulled the door closed.
Lacey watched the sheriff over the rim of the mug as she brought it up to her lips. He filled out his denim shirt very nicely. She especially liked the way it pulled over his chest and upper arms. It even looked like his biceps were well developed too.
“So, Ruth tells me you’re here to apply for the job?”
She jumped, almost spilling coffee down her coat.
“That’s right. I’m very interested in being a trainee deputy sheriff.”
He pulled out a sheet of paper and wrote something down on it. He leaned back, the chair squeaking as he did so.
“In fact, I have my resume here.” She leaned forward, put the mug on his desk and searched through her bag. Somehow, him not taking his eyes off her made Lacey all fingers and thumbs as she rummaged around. Lacey knew she had it somewhere in this mess.
“Take your time, no hurry,” he said.
She put her make-up bag on his desk by the mug, pulled out her cell phone, and there underneath everything, sat the piece of paper.
She pulled it out and handed it to him. The chair pinged as he sat forward, took it and quickly placed it in front of him. He had gorgeous long eyelashes too and a cleft in the chin. She looked away when he glanced up at her after reading the resume.
“Ms. Metcalfe, can I call you Lacey?”
“Absolutely.”
“Lacey, I see you’re from Boston.”
“That’s right.”
“Any particular reason you’re in Montana looking for work? Marrying a local maybe?”
She shook her head. “No, not getting married. I just wanted a change.”
He took a deep breath and rubbed his index finger over his chin before leaning back in his chair again.
“Lots of people come here because they’re running away from something. It’s the perfect place to get lost if that’s what you want to do. Sometimes it’s the law, the government, even a spouse or themselves. You fit into any of those categories?”
She held up her hand, wanting to say the only thing she was running from was a broken heart, but that wasn’t any of his business, even if this was a job interview.
“No, none of the above.”
He bit his lip. They were gorgeous too. Full, smooth looking and…
“And you’ve got no experience working in law enforcement?”
She shook her head. “But I’m adaptable.”
“That’s great to hear, but this job needs someone with that sort of work background because they’ll be a deputy within six, maybe nine months.”
“I can do it.”
He pushed her resume back toward her. “I’m sorry Lacey, but I really don’t think you’d be a good fit for the job.”
She hadn’t come all this way to be dismissed within the first five minutes of walking through the door.
“That’s not fair. You haven’t really interviewed me or asked me any real questions yet.”
“Okay, you ever fired a gun?”
Technically she had.
“What sort of gun was it? Make and caliber?”
Did water pistol count? Or even the super soaker she’d used at her brother’s tenth birthday party?
“You’ve never held a gun let alone fired one, have you?” He raised his eyebrows.
“Okay, so I haven’t, but I could learn.”
“I need someone that already knows how to, and also understands what it’s like to work in law enforcement.”
So he wasn’t even going to give her a chance.
“It’s because I’m a woman isn’t it?”
He held up his hand. “Hey, don’t you dare pull that sort of crap. I don’t want to get a letter from some fancy Boston law office saying you’re suing me for sex discrimination. You are not right for this job, period. I don’t care if you have breasts or a penis, those are the facts.”
“I can do this job, Sheriff Malone.”
“If it’s a job you need I can ask around town. In fact, my mother’s looking for someone to help out at the café she runs.”
“Café worker. Have you seen my resume? I have a degree and a solid working background. You think that’s all I’m qualified to do?”
“Now don’t get all high and mighty with me. This is a working class town with down to earth values. If you don’t like it or think working in a café’s too demeaning for you, then I suggest you get your designer clothed ass out of my town and head back east.”
She’d never been so tempted to slap a man across the face. No, that wasn’t true. Her ex-fiancé fit into that category perfectly. Lacey stood, jarring the coffee mug on his desk, sending it on its side, and the remaining portion of the coffee headed toward her resume and the arrogant sheriff. He jumped up from his chair, but he wasn’t fast enough. A brown stain now marred the front of his jeans. He picked up the mug and glared at her.
“Good day, Sheriff Malone. I’ll see myself out, but you haven’t seen or heard the last of me.”