Read Online Rae, Beverly - Chasing Cally [Night Runner Werewolves 2] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Special Edition) by Beverly Rae - Free Book Online

town’s newly appointed sheriff, his hand on the holster of his gun, slid to a stop and took in the carnage. “What happened here?”
    Carl moaned, then rolled to his other side. Cally took the bat from Max and laid it against the piano. “This idiot broke down my door, then threatened to hurt me.”
    “She’s got my wife and daughter holed up in here, sheriff.”
    Tim buckled the strap back over his gun. “Is that true, Cally?”
    She didn’t want to lie to the sheriff, but she couldn’t let Carl know the truth. Instead, she stared into Tim’s eyes and hoped he’d understand her silent message. “Now why would they be here?”
    Tim studied her then nodded. “Uh-huh.” Turning to Max, he cocked his head to the side, disdain written on his face. “What’s your part in this? And are any of the others involved?”
    Max stepped closer to Cally. “I’m just a good citizen helping out a woman in need.”
    “Uh-huh.” Tim blew out a breath, reached over, and hauled Carl to his feet. “I tell you what. I’m going to take old Carl here down to the lockup and let him sleep it off. If you want to press charges, Cally, you’ll have to come down and talk to Judge Wilson in the morning.”
    Cally bit her lip and wondered if she should press charges. Spending a few days behind bars would do Carl some good. But she knew his best friend, a lawyer, would have him out on bail before she even left the courthouse. Then what? Carl would be angrier than ever.
    “I’ll let it go this time. But I’m going to put the bill for my new door on his tab at the hardware store.”
    “Okay. It’s your choice. But if you change your mind, let me know.” Tim nodded his head and, keeping a firm grip on the big man, headed him toward the door. Suddenly, he pivoted around to glare at Max. “As for you, I think you’d better get on back to the ranch where you belong.”
    Cally watched their interaction, getting the sense that the sheriff knew more than he said. Max didn’t respond and instead bent to pick up the broken lamp. Taking the hint, the sheriff muttered a curse under his breath and pushed Carl outside.
    She watched Max as he cleaned up, mesmerized by the simple flexing of his arms. Granted he was as hot and sexy as any man she’d ever seen, but why did her stomach flip over every time she got close? He held an indefinable attraction for her, like chocolate to a love-starved housewife. Her mouth dried up in the same second wetness dampened her panties. She wanted to reach out to him, to snag him by his satiny, black hair and yank his mouth to hers.
    Her knees still shook, but no longer from fear. Max Matheson was the sun her cold body needed, the water her parched soul yearned for.
    “Why is it men always end up on the floor holding their junk whenever you’re around?”
    He chuckled. “Hey, you’re the one you put the whammy on the first guy. I guess we just tend to think alike.”
    I hope so . She licked her lips, ready for the kiss she longed for.
    “I’ll get a man over here to fix your door. Don’t worry about it.”
    She let out a long slow breath and knelt beside him, helping to pick up the pieces of the lamp. “How?”
    He looked at her, his dark eyes flecked with amber, making her wonder how his eyes could change. “How what? How will he fix your door?”
    “No. How did you know I was in trouble?” She inhaled, trying not to be obvious about it but hoping to get closer to smell his unique, wild scent. He smelled like sunny days, windy nights all layered with an exotic cover of barely controlled danger. Yet unlike Carl, his edge of danger made her feel safe.
    He stood then carried the broken shards to a nearby trash can. Turning, he grinned at her, the ghost of a mischievous little boy oozing from his demeanor. “Oh, you know. I just happened to be in the area.”
    She dumped her bits of broken porcelain into the trash after his. “Uh-huh. And this ranch of yours? Is my house on the way there?”
    “Could