Read Online The Sheriff's Secret Wife by Christyne Butler - Free Book Online Page A

"W-we live here."

"You haven't lived here for years and if your sister changed the locks, then you two—" his stare took in Justin, who'd risen from the couch "—are once again breaking the law."

"Tell lover-boy this is our home, too," Billy Joe directed his sister.

Gage clenched his jaw, not allowing a reaction to Billy's comment. He looked at Racy and found her staring at him, face pale.

Her gaze flickered to her brother. "Shut up, Billy."

"What's the matter with you, girl? You've gone soft on the sheriff?" Billy Joe grunted. "Back when he was nothing but a snot-nosed football star you used to call him a dumb jock."

"He's not my lover." She swallowed hard and looked away, her attention on the dog. Her words came out in a ragged whisper. "I'm the only family Billy Joe and Justin have in this town and they're obviously in no shape to drive. They can stay here."

Gage ignored the pang in his chest. He concentrated instead on the fact she was letting the bastards off the hook. "Racy, you don't have to—"

"To worry about that mutt of yours," Billy Joe cut off Gage's protest and grabbed another beer. "We didn't let him have any of the good stuff. A few brewskis ain't going to kill him."

"Shut your trap, Billy." Racy continued to rub the dog's golden-brown fur. "Before I change my mind and you two can sleep it off in a jail cell."

A retching bellow from the retriever had Racy and the blonde girls on the couch crying out as the dog flopped into unconsciousness.

"Jack!" She grabbed a dish towel off a kitchen chair and wiped at the dog. "Oh, please wake up!"

Gage pushed past Racy's laughing jerk of a brother and reached her side in seconds. "Get a blanket."

She turned to him, her dark brown eyes filled with unshed tears. His anger at her…over Gina…their marriage…faded at the hurting in her gaze. He found himself wanting to pull her into his arms.

Instead, he pushed her to her feet and turned her toward the hallway. "Now."

She nodded and raced to a back room. Gage, mindful of the mess, stepped over the dog, keeping his eye on both of Racy's brothers. "Since neither one of you seems to be in a mood to help, why don't you sit back down with your…guests?"

"I'll help." Justin took a couple of unsteady steps. "What do you need?"

"Shut up and sit down." Billy Joe shoved Justin back toward the couch and the bewildered blondes. He turned and grinned at Gage. "Want us where you can see us, huh?"

"Yeah, something like that."

Gage knelt when Racy rushed back in with an oversize quilt. He hated to lose the use of his hands but he guessed the animal weighed at least seventy pounds. There was no way she'd be able to pick him up. He gathered the dog in his arms. They had to get help and fast.

Keeping an eye on Billy Joe, lounging in a battered recliner, and Justin, who sat nearby bug-eyed and white as a sheet, Gage pushed to his feet. "Racy, get the door."

She ran ahead and Gage followed. He held the dog much like he would a baby, with most of the weight on one arm just in case he needed to reach for his gun. It wouldn't be easy, but he'd do it if one of the Dillon boys rushed them.

He hated to leave them here, but they had to get the animal to the vet immediately. He made a mental note to call in a drive-by for one of his deputies as soon as he could. "Close the inside door," he said once they were on the porch. "Then get in the backseat."

Racy did what she was told. The rock music blared to life again as he hurried down the steps in an awkward backward motion. The urge to bust up their little party burned in his gut, but he knew there'd be plenty of other chances.

He slid the dog onto the backseat next to Racy, ordered her to put her seat belt on and then jumped in the driver's seat. The snow had slowed a bit, but the winds had picked up. He put the Jeep into gear and headed back the way they'd come.

He grabbed his cell phone from his pocket and pressed speed dial. "Hey, Kali…it's Gage," he said, when the