Brody (12 page)

* * *
*

At six
thirty the next morning, Madilyn strolled into the sheriff’s department. She
smiled at Betty Lou.

“I need
to talk to Brody.”

“He’s
in Sam’s office. I’ll let them know you’re here.”

“Thank
you, Betty Lou—”

“Sam,”
Betty Lou shouted.

Sam
came striding out of his office. “Why can’t you use the damn intercom?”

“Don’t
you swear at me, Sam Garrett,” Betty Lou huffed.

Madilyn
heard Sam sigh. “Sam, can I talk to you and Brody?” She saw the surprise on his
face.

“I
didn’t see you, Madilyn.
Of course.
Come on back.” He
led her to his office. Brody stood when she entered the room.

“Maddie?
Are you all right? You look
tired.”

“I
didn’t sleep much.” She took a seat across from Sam’s desk. Brody and Sam both
sat.

“What
is it?” Sam asked.

“I
think Wilson Delgado called me last night.”

“
What?”
Brody jumped up. “What do you
mean, ‘you think’?”

“A man
called me and told me we had a friend in common.” She glanced at Brody.
“You.
Then he said he wanted to get to know me since you
knew his wife before she was killed and he wanted the same courtesy.” Her voice
caught on a sob.

“That
son of a bitch.
He’s here, Sam,” Brody muttered. He gazed at Madilyn. “You’re coming to the
ranch to stay.”

“What
good is that going to do? I still have to come into town for work,” Madilyn
reminded him.

Brody
didn’t take his eyes off her. “Tell her, Sam.”

Madilyn
glanced at Sam to see him nod. “He’s right, Madilyn. We can’t give him any
opportunity to get to you.”

“I’ll
be alone out there at night. Isn’t that worse?”

Brody
sat back down. “Shit,” he growled. “She’s right.”

“Then I’ll
move you to day shift. At least at night, you’ll be together and during the
day, you’ll both be working,” Sam told them.

“How
are we going to do that? Rick will pitch a fit working nights,” Brody said.

“He’ll
do what I tell him to do.” Sam picked up the phone and called Rick into his
office.

When
Rick strolled in, he smiled at Madilyn and Brody. “What’s up, Sam?”

“I’m
switching you to nights for a while.” Sam raised his hand when Rick started to
interrupt. “Hopefully it won’t be for long, but I need you to do this, Rick. No
questions asked.”

“All
right, Sam. You’re the boss.” Rick gave him a nod.

 
“Go home, Brody. I’ll see you tomorrow.
Rick you can start tomorrow night.”

 
Madilyn, Brody, and Rick left Sam’s
office. Brody glanced at Rick. “I appreciate it, Rick.”

“No
problem, Brody. I’m not sure what’s going on, but I’ll help however I can,” he
told Brody.

 
Brody put his hand out to him. “I
appreciate it, Rick. Hopefully, it won’t be too long for you.”

Rick
shook his hand and then entered his office. Brody and Madilyn walked outside.
The summer heat slapped them in the face. The thought of being in the
greenhouse today didn’t sit well with Madilyn. It was bad enough on fall and
spring days but in the stifling heat of August, it was a killer.

“I
guess you have to work today.” Brody grinned at her.

“Yes. I
don’t want Katie alone too much right now.” Madilyn smiled. “What did you have
in mind?”

Brody
pulled her close to him and whispered in her ear. “Horseback ride and then
spend the day in bed.”

Madilyn
groaned. “I wish I could.” She sighed. “Can you come back into town later to
help me pack some clothes?”

Brody
nodded.
“Of course.
I think I’ll get started on
tearing the old barn down since my plans to spend the day with you are shot to
hell.”

Madilyn
laughed. “Sorry but I have a job…for now.” She sobered, remembering it was
possible she’d be out of a job soon. Sighing, she took his hand and started
across the street toward the florist shop. It was early but she’d go ahead and
open to get started on her day.

At the
shop, she unlocked the doors and strolled in with Brody following her inside.
She turned the alarm off then moved behind the counter. Brody stood in the
middle of the shop, glancing around.

“What
does he look like?” Madilyn asked.

Brody’s
mouth tightened. “I suppose women think he’s good-looking. He’s tall, around
six
foot
, slim.
Blonde hair, blue
eyes.
The son of a bitch is always
tan
. I think
he has a damn tanning booth in that mansion of his.”

Madilyn
felt faint as she sat down. “I saw him.”

“What?”
Brody strode around the counter. “What do you mean you saw him?
When?”

“A
while back.
A man came to my door asking if Caroline was there. I told him he had the wrong
apartment, it was a floor up. He smiled and left but he fits the description.”
She shivered. “I was confused, at first, because no one by that name lived
upstairs but then I thought maybe he was just meeting her there.” Madilyn
raised tear filled eyes at him. “He was there to see me, wasn’t he?”

Brody
nodded. “He was scoping you and the apartment out.” He swore. “Damn it.” He ran
his fingers through his hair. “I wonder how long he’s been here. I wish you’d
told me about this.”

Madilyn
placed her hands on her hips. “How was I supposed to know who he was? I thought
he was just lost. You had no idea he was here.”

“I
know, but I should’ve known he’d show up. He’s not the type to let something
go. It doesn’t matter how long ago it happened, he wants revenge. Revenge for
something he did but blames me for.” Brody paced. “I can’t let you out of my sight.”

“What
are you going to do, Brody? Stay with me all day?”

“No. I
know I can’t do that, but I will
come
pick you up at
the end of the day and take you to the ranch with me. Once there, you’re not to
leave my side.” Brody strode toward her and cupped her face in his hands. “I
won’t let him get near you or I’ll die trying to keep him from you.”

Madilyn
hugged him. She sighed when his arms tightened around her. This couldn’t be
over soon enough.

* * *
*

At the
end of the day, Madilyn stayed inside, waiting for Brody. Kaitlyn entered the
front shop and smiled at her.

“I’m
going to head home. I’ll be late tomorrow. I have an appointment with an
attorney first thing in the morning.” Kaitlyn shook her head. “I have no idea
what it’s about, unless Kevin owed someone money or something. I’ll be in as
soon as the meeting is over.”

“That’s
fine, Katie. Have you had any calls about the house?”

Kaitlyn
nodded. “Yes. A family was by over the weekend. They really like it so I’m
keeping my fingers crossed.”

Madilyn
smiled and watched as Kaitlyn left. Brody stopped her outside the shop to speak
to her. Madilyn watched as Kaitlyn hugged him then headed for her car. Brody
came inside and strolled up to her. He grinned at her and her heart hit her
stomach.

“Ready
to go home?” he said softly.

“Yes.
It’s been a long day.” She moved around the counter and stood in front of him.
“Why did Katie hug you?”

Brody
chuckled. “Because I’m protecting you, she said.”

Madilyn
laughed. “She’s priceless.”

 
“Let’s go. I don’t want to be out after
dark.” Brody grasped her arm and led her from the store.

Madilyn
locked the door and walked with Brody to his truck. She climbed up into it.
“Could you have gotten a bigger truck?” she teased.

Brody
laughed. “I don’t think so. But, I am going to get a new bike as soon as I have
a chance. I miss riding.”

“I’d
like to ride with you.”

Brody
glanced over to her. “You can
ride
with me anytime, baby.”

Madilyn
swatted her hand at him.
“Stop.”

His
eyebrows went up. “What? What did I say?”

Madilyn
snorted. “Men,” she muttered.

Brody
burst out laughing and started the truck. He drove them to the ranch and
stopped by the back door. “I’m going to check the house. Stay here and lock the
doors behind me. I’ll only be a minute.”

Madilyn
nodded as he climbed out of the truck and strode into the house. Lights came on
as he made his way through. She glanced around the yard. There were so many
good memories here for her. A smile lifted her lips as she gazed at the huge
red barn. They’d made love so many times in the hayloft. She chuckled as she
remembered the time they’d almost been caught by Brody’s dad. They lay in the
hayloft trying not to laugh as Brody’s dad walked through the barn yelling for
them.

 
She was startled when Brody tapped on the
window. Reaching over, she unlocked the door and climbed out. She couldn’t keep
the grin from her face.

“What
are you grinning about?” Brody asked suspiciously.

 
“I was remembering when your dad almost
caught us in the barn.”

Brody
laughed. “He may not have caught us but he knew when we walked into the house
and you had hay in your hair.”

Madilyn
groaned. “I’d never been so embarrassed in my life as when he pulled it out of
my hair.”

Brody
chuckled. “Mom had to look away. She was laughing so hard.”

Madilyn
slapped his arm. “It’s not funny.”

Brody
pulled her against him and kissed her. “Yes, it is.” He put her back to the
truck and deepened the kiss. His tongue moved into her mouth and he groaned
when she touched hers to his. “We need to go inside.”

Madilyn
nodded and took the hand he put out to her. They went inside and Brody locked
the door behind them. She stood in the center of the kitchen and rubbed her
arms. “I hate knowing he’s out there. How does he know about me?”

Brody
shrugged. “He has connections. He can find out anything he wants. I’m sure he’s
not here alone either. I’m sure he’s brought his henchmen with him.” Brody
sighed. “It won’t do any good to ask around about new people in town with all
the tourists here.”

Madilyn
turned from him and headed toward the living room. She took a seat on the sofa.
Brody joined her and took her hands in his. “We’ll keep an eye out. If anyone
looks suspicious, we’ll take them in for questioning. I doubt if Delgado will
show his face but I also don’t believe his men will blend in real well.”

“Let’s
go to bed,” Madilyn said unexpectedly.

“Bed?
Don’t you want to eat
something?”

“I want
you, Brody,” she whispered. “I need to feel safe and there’s no place I feel
safer than in your arms.”

Brody
stood and put his hand out to her. She placed her hand in his and followed him
to the bedroom. He lifted her into his arms and laid her on the bed. He
laid
down beside her and kissed the tears from her cheeks.

 
“I won’t let him hurt you,” he promised.

She
reached for the buttons on his khaki shirt and slipped them open. Brody took
the shirt off and tossed it to the floor. His hands went to the bottom of her
shirt and lifted it over her head. He pressed his lips to hers as he unclasped
her bra. Pulling her up, he removed the bra and tossed it. Then his hand roamed
down her stomach to the snap of her jeans and lowered the zipper slowly.
Brody’s hand snaked inside her panties to her feminine folds. She squirmed
under his hand.

 
Madilyn’s hands went to the snap of his
jeans. His hard shaft strained against the zipper. She lowered it, wrapped her
hand around him, and moved her hand up and down the length of him, making him
growl low in his throat. Her hands moved to push his jeans down, when one of
them encountered the handcuffs. She raised her gaze to his and grinned.

“Why
are you grinning?” he asked.

“So…deputy.
How often do you get to use
these?” She jingled the handcuffs.

He
chuckled. “Not as much as I’d like to. Why? What do you have in mind?”

“Handcuff
me,” she whispered.

Brody
took both of her hands in one of his. He put the handcuffs through the bed
spindles and hooked them around her wrists. He grinned at her as he ran his
hands over her breasts to her stomach.

“Maybe
this wasn’t such a good idea,” Madilyn moaned.

“Oh, I
think it’s a wonderful idea.” Brody chuckled as he moved down her legs and
stripped her of her jeans and panties.