Chapter Eight
Ifeel myself rolling before I unceremoniously hit the floor.
“What the hell?”
The bed tips back into place. I blink, wondering if I’m still asleep, until the sound of music blasts through the house. I groan. The house has decided to make me pay a little longer for leaving.
“Fine, you win,” I grumble as I get to my feet and pad to the bathroom.
I turn on the shower and climb in once the water is warm.
I lift the bottle of shampoo that’s been here the whole time I’ve been gone, and wonder if shampoo goes off.
With few options, I take my chances, washing my hair and conditioning it before using the last of the cherry-scented shower gel to wash myself.
Before I’ve finished rinsing off all the soap, I’m blasted with icy cold water.
“Goddammit.” I hurry to get the soap off me before climbing out.
The second I’m free of the shower, I reach back to turn off the water, only to find it warm again.
I narrow my eyes and stick my leg back in.
The water is freezing again. With a curse, I turn the water off and use a towel to dry myself, scowling at my reflection in the mirror.
I think of all the pictures I’m going to put up and imagine myself putting holes all over the walls.
I don’t say anything out loud. The house has a bit of a mean streak.
Tugging open the closet, I look for something to wear.
Most of it won’t work. I settle on what used to be a pair of baggy red sweat pants that now fit snug around my hips and ass, and throw on a stretchy white tank top that molds to my body like a second skin.
“I’m really going to need to sort out this clothing situation,” I huff as I find an oversized sweatshirt in the back of the closet.
It’s a warm morning, so I tie it around my waist, ready to throw it on if I need to.
I brush my hair and pull it up into a ponytail and head downstairs, enjoying the quiet.
It’s been so long since I’ve experienced silence like this.
It’s both soothing and a little jarring.
If I hadn’t been so exhausted by the time I rolled into bed last night, I’m not sure I’d have been able to sleep without all the familiar background noise.
As it happened, I was out cold before my head even touched the pillow.
I make my way to the kitchen first and put on the coffee pot, thankful Jen had the forethought to grab coffee and creamer yesterday while she was in town, along with some pastries.
I make my coffee and head toward the back of the house, opening the door so I can sit on the deck steps. I grind my teeth together when I see people working. “You have got to be fucking kidding me.”
I take my seat on the top step and pull out my cell phone, which Jen insisted I have yesterday.
She set it up and showed me how to use it, making me feel grateful to the woman all over again.
I dial the police station first. It takes a fucking age for someone to answer.
Good thing it wasn’t an emergency. I’d have been dead before I spoke to anyone.
“Crowhurst PD. Officer Hollis speaking, how can I help?”
“My name is Calliope Hart. I’m up at Corvis Wing Ranch, and I’ve got trespassers on my land.”
There is a pause before the voice clears its throat and then speaks again. “I’m sorry, did you say Calliope Hart?”
“Yes. Did you need me to spell that for you?”
“All officers are busy right now, I’m afraid. I’ll try to get someone out to you later, but I can’t make any promises,” she replies, her voice saccharine sweet.
“So what you’re saying is you have no interest in helping me at all. No worries, I’ll take care of the problem myself.” I hang up, frustrated as fuck. I call Jen before I do something stupid, like stabbing people.
“Why on god’s green earth are you awake right now? You’re not in prison anymore, Calliope. You can sleep in now.”
“Something woke me up,” I complain, before taking a sip of my coffee.
“And so you thought you’d return the favor?”
“No. I came down to get coffee. Thank you, by the way, because without this, I’d need your services for another homicide.”
“What are you talking about?” She sounds wide awake now.
“Everything okay?” I hear murmuring in the background before the sound of movement. “Everything’s fine. Go back to sleep.”
I wait, keeping my eyes on the people I can see, not giving them any reaction when some of them spot me.
“Okay, tell me what’s happening.”
“I seem to have a crew out back working the ranch, which is odd as I haven’t hired anyone. I don’t want anyone here who has ties to Dale, Porter, or my dad.”
“Fucking men. Everyone was given notice and severance pay, which I thought was really fucking nice of you, considering,” she mutters, making me grin. I didn’t know anything about severance pay, but I trust Jen more than anyone on the planet.
“You call the cops?”
“Before I called you. As soon as they heard my name, they told me they didn’t have anyone available and that they’d try and get someone over to me later.”
“Tell me you’re joking?”
“I wish I could.”
“Un-fucking-believable. Alright, leave it with me. I’ll get this sorted. Do not murder anyone. I promised my husband a dirty weekend away.”
“I really didn’t need to know that.” I grimace before hanging up to the sounds of her laughter.
I take another sip of my coffee as the phone chimes, signaling an incoming message. I open it, knowing it’s from Jen, and grin.
Don’t forget you have your first interview at 9 am. Try not to hire any ax murderers.
Smartass.
I’ve just gotten out of prison for murder, I don’t think I’m in a position to judge. Also, you did background checks on these guys, so I know you know everything down to what size boxers they wear.
I finish my drink before the phone chimes again.
Ha ha ha, you’re hilarious. Fixed the vermin issue; an inspector is coming to eradicate them.
I blink, not sure how to respond to that, so I don’t. I sit and stare at the people who are cautiously watching me without looking like they’re watching me.
When the house makes a chirping noise, I frown and get to my feet. I head inside just as I sense what the house is trying to tell me.
Someone’s coming.
I place my mug on the kitchen island before heading to the door. I peek out and see a cruiser pull up and smile. If an officer is here, Jen must have ripped them a new one. Let’s hope it’s not Officer Asshole Andrews because I’m really not in the fucking mood.
“Open up, please,” I ask the house nicely. To my surprise, it does without argument.
“Thank you,” I murmur as the cruiser door opens, and none other than the sheriff steps out.
Crap. I’m not mentally prepared enough for this guy yet. Still, when he walks toward me with that damn cowboy hat tipped low, I feel a part of me wake up and take notice before I shove it back down.
“Miss Hart.” He taps the brim of his hat in greeting as he approaches.
“Sheriff.”
“Shepard, please. Your lawyer called and chewed me out.”
I wince. “Sorry. She was pissed on my behalf, but I didn’t know she was going to do that.”
He waves me off. “So what seems to be the issue?”
I motion him in, wondering if the house will take issue with him stepping inside. But much like with Jen last night, it seems to welcome his presence.
“I woke to find a bunch of ranch hands out back when there shouldn’t be any.” He frowns but waits for me to finish. “I called the station. A lovely woman answered, and when I told her my name, she basically told me nobody would be coming.”
“You get a name?”
“Officer Hollis,” I reply, not even feeling a little bit guilty.
“I’ll take care of it. But first, let’s see what you’re dealing with. May I?” He indicates that he wants to head out back. I nod and watch him walk down the hallway, admiring the way his ass looks in those Wranglers.
“Miss—”
My eyes shoot up, hoping he didn’t notice, but his amused grin tells me I’m not so lucky. I pretend innocence and cross my arms over my chest, remembering belatedly that I’m not wearing a padded bra, and I don’t want the girls to give me away.
His eyes drift to my chest. I swallow as he licks his lips before they return to my face. Unlike me, he has no shame or embarrassment at getting caught, and I have to wonder if this guy is slightly insane. I mean, he’s a cop for goodness sake.
“You said they’re out back. You have a list of names of the people that should be here?”
“Nobody should be here but me, Sheriff.”
“Shepard.”
“Right, Shepard.”
“You fired everyone?” he asks, sounding surprised.
“I don’t want anyone working for me who’s loyal to Dale or Porter. They all know this. They signed the required forms and accepted the severance package Jen offered them.”
“While I understand all of that, I’ve gotta ask, how are you going to keep this place running without staff?”
“As I’m not sure I’m keeping Corvis Wing as a cattle ranch or not yet, it’s a moot point.”
His eyebrows disappear into his hairline as he whistles. “You sure like to do things the hard way, don’t you?”
I snort out a laugh. “You have no idea.”
“I don’t know, I think I’m beginning to,” he says softly with zero judgment in his voice.
He clears his throat before turning and heading outside to the deck.
I move to stand beside him as he puts his fingers in his mouth and whistles loud enough to make my ears ring.
Everyone turns to look over. Most of them tense when they see the sheriff.
He beckons them over and waits until most of them crowd nearer. “Why are you all here?”
“We work here,” someone calls out.
“No. You worked here. You were given notice, had your termination forms, plus a severance package, I believe. So, I ask again, why are you here? Because as far as I’m concerned, I should be taking you all in for trespassing.”
“We don’t work for her. We work for Porter,” some cocky asshole in the front states as he crosses his arms.
“Well, as he was fired too, I don’t see that being an issue,” I say sweetly.
“Doesn’t matter. I’ve—”
“Actually, it does. And I’d think long and hard before you go down this route because you were fine with me being the boss when you were accepting the severance package.
As all of you are here, you are technically violating the terms and conditions set for you to receive the payout.
Now all of you owe me money, and if you don’t get off my land in the next five minutes, I’ll get my lawyer to draw up the papers so I can sue each and every one of you. ”
“You’re just making friends all over the place, huh?” Shepard drawls from beside me.
“They’re not interested in making friends with me.” I shrug, not bothered.
“She can’t do this!” someone else yells.
By now, Shepard is getting pissed. “She can, and she’s already told you the reasons why. If I have to repeat them, I’ll arrest you all. It’s too early for you to be trying my patience,” he snaps.
Nobody moves for a moment before someone drops the saddle they were holding.
“Fuck this. Who wants to work for a murdering bitch anyway?” He storms off, others following suit.
A few people hang on longer, glaring at me like they want to rip my head off.
After dealing with my father for years, they’ll have to do better than that to intimidate me.
I don’t relax until the last of them has gone, my shoulders slumping in relief.
“You okay?”
I nod, tipping my head up to look at him. “Yeah. Thanks for coming. That could have turned ugly.”
“It’s probably what Dale and Porter were hoping for.”
“Hence why I called you guys, and look how well that turned out.”
He holds out his hand to me. I stare down at it, confused.
“Gimmie your cell phone.” I do without thinking about it. He hits a few keys before handing it back. “Now you have my personal cell phone number. You have any trouble or you…need anything, give me a call.”
I narrow my eyes at his smile. “Sheriff, are you flirting with me?”
“Clearly not very well.” He sighs before lifting his hat so he can run his fingers through his hair.
“I’m a convict, and you’re a cop.”
“I’m aware.”
“I really shouldn’t need to spell this out to you.”
He leans closer, his lips so close to my ear that his warm breath skates across my cheek, making me shiver.
“I’m not looking to marry you, Poppy. I want to fuck you.
I figure fifteen years is a long time to go without being able to have fun.
If you get the urge, give me a call. I’ll be more than happy to be your playground. ”
He kisses my cheek before placing the hat back on his head and sauntering off as if he didn’t just fry all my synapses.
I watch him walk through the back door to the front, unable to say a word. I stand there, like an idiot, as he turns back and winks at me before heading outside. The second he steps across the threshold, the door closes behind him.
I slide down the wall, feeling like a hot, sweaty mess. “And he thinks I’m trouble. What the actual fuck?”