Ranger Defender

“You okay now?”

“I think I can... That’s...that’s never happened to me before.”

“I apologize for the up close and personal, but I didn’t have a paper bag in my pocket.”

She swayed and his hands darted out to steady her. “Whoa. I think I’m a little light-headed.”

“No surprise. Why don’t you sit again? I’ll get you a bottle of water.” He helped until the back of her knees bent against the couch and she sat.

“Tap. Glasses...” She pointed above the sink. The dishes were on an open shelf. He wouldn’t have trouble finding them. “That was...so embarrassing.”

Slate moved his hat out of the sink and filled a glass, then handed her the water. “Do the panic attacks happen often?”

“Never.”

He looked at her like that was hard to believe, but he didn’t say the words. “I figure this is a lot to take in. You’re gonna have to trust me.”

“Does that slow-talkin’ cowboy act work on a lot of the girls?” She watched his puzzled reaction. Had she miscalculated him? Was he for real? “Look. I don’t trust anyone anymore. Victor and I have been screwed over by the best of them. Just tell me what’s wrong with this report and why aren’t we on our way to the attorney’s office?”

“Yeah, about that.” He grimaced slightly while sucking air through his teeth. Then he arched his hand down the back of his head and scratched his neck. Then he put his hands in the air like he was stopping her from moving. “You’re not going to have another attack, are you?”

She crossed her arms and legs in answer.

“My buddy was checking the file to make sure everything on our end is ready to go next week. Heath might have arrested your brother, but no one in my Company had anything to do with the investigation.”

“So?”

“I don’t actually have permission to be working the case.”

“Oh. I understand. You’d rather not be involved so you’re going to let my brother hang.”

“No, that’s not exactly what I meant.” He pulled his phone from his back pocket.

“Mr. Thompson, it’s time for you to leave.” She stood and pointed to the door.

He held a finger up in the air with one hand, bringing his phone up with the other. “One second. Just give me—Wade. Look, your hunch was right. Yeah, I’ve got a good lead, but I’m going to need some time. No.” He brought his light blue eyes up from looking at the carpet to meet hers. “I did not get food poisoning. I’ll put in for the time off. I just wanted to be sure you’d be around for tech support. Yeah, man. One of the best.” He disconnected, shaking his head then rubbing his forehead right between his brows.

“What was that about?” she asked, trying not to feel pleased or excited or both.

“I’m going to help you.” He took off his badge hooked on his shirt pocket and tucked it away with his ID. “I just can’t be a Texas Ranger while I do.”

“You’re really going to help me? Help Victor?” That bubble was back, ready to pop with his next words.

“I didn’t sign up for this job just to step aside and see an innocent man go to prison.” He stepped back toward the kitchen and picked up his hat, now on the two-burner stove. “Now that you know the logistics on my end, let’s go see Victor’s attorney. I’ll be in the truck while you dress. It’s still raining out there. You might want to bring an umbrella.”

Was that a wink while he secured that Stetson on his head?

It didn’t matter. She felt years older than Slate Thompson. And her heart was a little short on...

Well, everything. It was depleted. Empty. Desperate for any human kindness.

The tears came as soon as Slate pulled the door shut behind him. Just a short, easily controlled attack while she gathered clothes.

Who knew what they’d be doing later. And she meant they. There wasn’t any way in the world she was letting that cowboy get out of her sight until she found out everything he knew about Victor’s case.

Slate had only met the poor, pitiful, chicken wing waitress in dire need of help. He had no idea what she became when she put on her business suit. It might be her last one, but she looked and felt like she was in control.

Normal.

Chapter Six (#u0b26392c-075e-525d-87f8-ba0b993c75ee)

Half an hour passed. Then another ten minutes. Slate was stepping out of the truck to see what was keeping Vivian when her apartment door opened.

It was one of those jaw-dropping moments that didn’t happen very often in his life. He’d kept it together and hadn’t cracked a smile in his Department of Public Safety days when a girl took off her top trying to get out of a speeding ticket. The man who thought his clothes were on fire and spit a bottle of water all over his uniform—he’d handled it all with a straight face and no disgust.

But seeing Vivian Watts step onto the wet sidewalk in a blue suit made him take a second look. And maybe a third. Her wild dark brown hair was neatly tucked at the back of her head. He noticed because he ran to her side of the truck and grabbed the umbrella she’d brought with her.

Helping her onto the front seat, he politely waited for her to put down a towel. It gave him plenty of time to admire the line of her calf and the height of the matching blue heels. Not to mention a close-up view of the shapely behind in her tight-fitting skirt.

The wolf in him came out. His lips were all puckered to let loose a howling whistle when he caught himself and kind of sucked air through his teeth. She noticed. Yep, she smiled, knowing what was blowing through his mind.

He ran to his side of the truck, chucking the umbrella in the back seat. His tie had been off since he’d left for lunch, but the way she was dressed almost made him feel guilty enough to put it back on.

Almost.

“I’m assuming we need to go to your place for you to get dry clothes. I’m fine with that by the way.”

“I live west of the metroplex on a ranch. It’s sort of out of the way.”

“So the cowboy thing isn’t a thing? It’s genuine?”

“That’d be me.”

“You don’t mind being wet?”

“Well, I’ve been worse. Beer once. Now that’s sticky when it dries.” Slate had already looked up the address of the attorney in Uptown.

“As much as I’d like to hear about you covered in beer... I think you take a left here.”

“Not around this time of day. It really is a funny story.”

“I gather.”

Slate tapped on the radio, immediately turning it down. “You don’t have to worry. I looked at directions and traffic before you got in the truck.”

“Do you think we should talk about what happens now? How do we get the report if Victor’s attorney didn’t keep the copy I gave him? Are you sure you know how to get to his office? I think you missed another turn.”

Lots of questions he wasn’t prepared to answer. “Let’s just take it one thing at a time. First step is to get there and ask for a copy of the study. We compare. We might get lucky.”