Kyle gave her a look that absolutely melted her panties. She could feel the blush creeping into her cheeks.
“Lyons is beautiful, actually,” he said. “And I would love to go tubing on the St Vrain.”
“Well, just come back in the summer and we’ll…” Her voice trailed off and she cleared her throat.
She continued on toward the building in silence, lost in her thoughts. Until the moment he grabbed her hand. Surprised, she looked up at him. He just grinned and led her across the parking lot.
The front door opened and Rick the Dick stepped out of the sub-station and started toward them. As he put on that expensive Stetson, he looked up and recognized Arden and Kyle. He sneered when he saw them holding hands.
“Oh, I see now. Not only did you hire muscle, you’re fucking it, too. Following the old family tradition, whore?”
“That’s it.” Kyle dropped Arden’s hand. “We can end this right here, asshole. Come at me.”
“Kyle, don’t.” Arden grabbed his hand again while restraining Camo, who was sniffing the air and growling at Rick. “We’re right in front of the police. He wants to get you arrested.”
“That’s right, Arden. Call off your dogs, both of them. He’s used to being in trouble anyway, aren’t you, punk?”
Kyle paled but kept up his front. “That fuck does that mean?”
“That means after finding out who you really are, I’ve just filed a restraining order against you and you’re violating it right now.” He spread his arms. “But by all means, go ahead and take a swing. I’m expecting it from a soldier who can’t control himself.”
“Fuck you, asshole,” Kyle said. But Arden noticed his breathing slow down and deepen. He wasn’t going to let Rick get the better of him.
“Soldier?” Arden said. “SEALs aren’t soldiers, moron.”
Rick smirked again. “You think your fucktoy is a SEAL?” He shook his head. “Word of advice—you might want to get your own restraining order against this savage.”
What does that mean, he’s not a SEAL?Arden decided Rick was just fucking with her. Her blood boiled. “You’re the only savage I know. Who the hell messes with a man who has dementia? Besides some dickless swine—”
“Yeah, keep telling yourself that, whore. But hey, maybe in the end Kyle here will make my job easier for me when he turns on you. I’ll just buy your ranch at the estate sale since it won’t go to anyone.”
“Get the fuck away from us right now!” Kyle balled his fist and drew back his arm to swing. Rick flinched like a pussy, then actually stepped forward. Camo crouched to lunge and Rick kicked out at him but missed.
“Jesus, how stupid are you?” Kyle yelled. He signaled to Camo and the dog stopped. Arden thought it must be a stand-down command.
Rick pointed at Camo. “I’ll have that dog impounded and put down. He’s a damn menace.”
“Mr. Muir.”Oh, fuck. Arden had no idea when the sergeant had come to the door. “I suggest you stop antagonizing your alleged antagonizers and head out before the storm comes back.”
“Sheriff. I demand you serve the restraining order right now. He’s obviously stalking me. You can see with your own eyes how dangerous this man is. He’s threatening me with a weaponized animal.”
“Get the hell out of here, Muir, and stop telling me how to do my damn job if you can’t even keep straight that sheriff’s an elected position and I’m a sergeant.”
Rick shook his head. “Backwoods hicks, all of you,” he muttered as he approached the fancy new Polaris.I hope he flips it right into the river, Arden thought. He was a fool to talk back to Sergeant George Williams, but the dick was mouthy by nature, like a yappy little dog. She tried not to let what Rick said about Kyle get to her. But what could he have meant?
“Sorry about that, Sherriff,” Kyle said as Rick the Dick sped away. “Didn’t mean to start any trouble.”
“You two better come on in,” Sergeant Williams drawled. “You’re obviously here for something, and I don’t want to keep any of us longer than need be.”
Dammit, what’s going to happen now? I knew we shouldn’t have come. But if they hadn’t, they wouldn’t know about Rick’s intentions. Arden started to follow, but Kyle hesitated. He took out his phone and snapped a couple photos of the ground before catching up.
The sergeant motioned for them to sit in two chairs in front of his desk. He rounded it, sat down, and folded his hands on the desk. Right there was the paperwork for the restraining order, freshly signed and dated by a judge that morning.
Williams cleared his throat. “Now let me guess. Arden, you’re here to file your own complaint against Muir.”
“That’s exactly it, George,” Arden said. “I have reason to believe he was trespassing on my property and attempted to break into my horse barn.”
George’s eyebrows raised. “Is that so? You got proof?”
