But he was undeniably compelling. A testament to honed strength and raw masculinity.
Jessica watched him fill three holes until he glanced her way and caught her staring. She quickly looked down, busying her attention with scratching Harry beneath his ears and praying the edginess that suddenly suffused her body didnt show.
But she doubted Sheriff Hancock was seeing the same details about Sam that she was. Her cheeks heated at the realization. She hadnt noticed a mans looks in months. Only to size up whether or not he was a threat to her, and to try to decide if he was the one. She couldnt remember the last time her body had buzzed with this long-forgotten awareness of a man.
Not since Alex. And her attraction for him had dimmed the moment hed introduced his wife at that museum fund-raiser. That had been during that same fateful trip to Chicago. Her sexual appetite had soured that night in the face of his arrogant deceit. Later, it had been destroyed by something much, much worse.
But she was noticing Sam ORourke.
And it scared her. Scared her enough to tighten her fingers around the cold steel of Harrys collar to steady herself. What was she thinking? Her therapist said when she started to heal, shed begin to think of men in a sexual way again. That that was normal, and not to be afraid of the feelings.
But when she thought of how much shed been hurt, how humiliated shed been, how degraded and stupid shed felt at letting a man
No. You didnt let him do anything, she chided herself. He attacked you. He used you. The scars on her fingers and neck, her wrists and ankles reminded her of how valiantly shed fought. The fact shed been naked and battered beneath a threadbare blanket when shed hailed that cab proved shed been in fear for her life.
One man had done something unspeakable to her. One man.
Not the entire male population.
She loved her brothers and father. She could conduct business with men, carry on a conversation with them. She could look atand even admirethem. That was all normal.
But shed be a suicidal idiot if she allowed herself to get close to another man. If she allowed herself to feel anythingeven empathy or attractionfor a man.
Not until she knew which man had stolen twenty-four hours from her memory and left her to die.
Jessie?
Jessica flinched, almost swinging out at the hand that grasped her shoulder. Harry growled in immediate response to her distress. Sheriff Hancock. Quickly orienting herself in the present and shutting off the vengeful commentary inside her head, she exhaled a calming breath.
Easy, Harry. She smoothed the wiry hair atop his head, reassuring herself as much as the canine. Curtis Hancock didnt know what shed gone through six months ago in Chicago. No one did. Secrecy was a necessary byproduct of her shame. Even if she never felt it again, she had to at least act as if she was normal. She even dredged up a shaky laugh. Im sorry.
The sheriff held up his hands and shook his head. Im the one whos sorry. Didnt mean to startle you.
Jessica shook aside his apology, moving on without offering any explanation. I got my invitation to Trudys, but Ill probably stay home. Since Ive expanded my business onto the Internet, Im having a hard time keeping up with orders.
Is that why you hired the new man? What do you know about this new fella, anyway?
Ah. The real reason for the unannounced visit. Curtis Hancock knew just about everyone in the county, from retirement-home residents to newborn babies. A stranger from the East Coast was definitely worth checking out.
Funny how a woman alone seemed to bring out the protective urges in every male. Except one. Sam ORourke seemed content to mind his own business and bury himself in his work. She could understand that need to lose himself in something long enough to forget the pain for a while. In the past months shed treasured finding an escape like thatputting together her Web site to expand her five-year-old business, training Harry. Because the guilt and the pain never truly seemed to go away.
Shed better put Sheriff Hancocks concerns to rest before he took his questions any further and alerted her family. Dont worry. I checked him out. This morning I called his supervisor back in Boston. He said that Sam had taken a leave of absence for personal reasons, but that hed always been reliable and above reproach. She smiled and pretended complete confidence in her choice. I wouldnt hire some bum with a criminal record.
I know you Taylors are a big deal in the city. But out here in the county Im your first line of defense. If Hancock could have puffed out his chest a little more when he said that, hed have busted a button at the front of his shirt. You wont mind if I do a little checking on this guy myself?
No. She didnt mind his interference as long as he didnt make a big deal out of it. Just tell me if you find out something, before you let anyone else know.
Absolutely.
Thanks. She thumbed over her shoulder toward Sam. Do you want to meet him?
A soft, guttural woof from Harry alerted her to the gray-and-white tabby cat tiptoeing through the grass toward relative safety beneath the porch. Harry didnt much mind the cats whod taken up residence in the barn and took care of the mice. He was more likely to go after the rodents and their larger cousins in the woods. But he was always careful to assert his dominance as chief pet.
Hey, kitty. Sheriff Hancocks portly face creased with a smile. Here, baby. He circled around Jessica and Harry and scooped up the willing feline in his arms. Arent you a sweet thing, he cooed, stroking the cats striped coat. This ones not full-grown yet. How many of these you have?
He turned and displayed the cat in his arms as if hed just picked up a new grandbaby. Jessica drifted back a step, responding to an unfamiliar impulse. I dont know. Ten? A dozen?
Would you consider parting with one or two of them? He buzzed his lips, imitating the cats purr. Jessica pressed her hand to her stomach, wondering at the sudden knot of nerves that clutched inside her. Id pay you a fair price, he offered.
Right now she was more creeped out by the cat he was petting than concerned about striking a business deal. Something toyed at the fringe of her subconscious mind. The cat. She was scarcely aware of the irregular pattern of her breathing now. Take the cat.
Are you sure? the sheriff asked. My wifes been bummed out ever since we had to put her yellow tabby, Peanut Butter, to sleep. Lord, how she loved that cat. Had her sixteen years.
Jessica didnt understand the panic that was sending intermittent shocks of terror through her system. She took a conscious step back, away from the cat. Take however many cats you want. Theyre free. Just take them. With my compliments.
Why thats right nice
Is everything all right, Miss Taylor? A giant shadow fell across her, temporarily blocking out the sun and breaking the inexplicable spell that had seized her. Sam ORourke pulled off his work gloves and stuffed them into his back pocket, circling around the sheriff and stopping at a respectful distance beside her. I saw the sheriffs car parked
Just paying a friendly visit. Sheriff Hancock angled his head to the side to mask how far he had to look up to see Sams face. Its my philosophy that the law needs to show up from time to time, even when there isnt any trouble. He shifted the cat to one arm and extended his free hand. Im Curtis Hancock, County Sheriff.