When we returned to the living room after grabbing tweezers from my bathroom and a Ziploc bag from the kitchen, Randy asked, “Is everything okay?”
I nodded as Mallory took a seat again. “I was asking Liam what if I didn’t come from the west? What if I was on his ranch longer than we think? It’s a huge ranch.”
“I’m considering that. I made a circle around the ranch. I’ll pull property owners when I can and share them with you. Mallory, I don’t think you’re from around here. Grass Range is tiny, and even though I don’t know everyone in Lewistown, I’m pretty sure I’d remember someone as…um… well…as pretty as you.”
Mallory’s cheeks blushed and she looked down at her feet.
“You think she lives in Montana?” I asked, ignoring the instant jealousy I felt.
Randy nodded. “I do. Or within driving range. A day’s ride from here would be my guess.”
Mallory chewed on her lip before she said, “It doesn’tfeellike I’m from Montana. The mountains are so beautiful, and every time I look at them, it’s like I’ve never seen them before.”
Randy stood, and I handed him the baggie and the tweezers. “Well, let’s hope we get a hit on your DNA or fingerprints.”
He pulled a few strands of Mallory’s hair, and when he zipped up the bag, she giggled.
“What’s so funny?” I asked.
She covered her mouth with her hand and laughed again before she said, “I hope I’m not a convicted criminal.”
Randy and I both laughed.
“If you are, you’re the prettiest criminal I’ve ever seen,” Randy said with a wink.
I found myself glaring at my cousin. “When will you get the results back?” I asked through gritted teeth.
Randy managed to pull his eyes off Mallory. “It shouldn’t take long. I have a fingerprint kit out in my car. Let me grab it so I can get your prints as well. Be right back.”
When we were alone, I glanced at Mallory. “I’m sorry about him. He was just trying to pay you a compliment.”
“It’s okay. I mean, I don’t feel very pretty right now, so it was kind of him.”
My brows shot up. “Mallory, you’re a very beautiful woman.”
Her cheeks blushed again…but something was different. Her eyes seemed to light up as well, and a strange tightness pulled across my chest at the sight.
She softly replied, “Thank you, Liam.”
Randy came back in and said, “Do you mind if we do this at the kitchen table. It’ll be sturdier.”
I stood off to the side and watched Randy take Mallory’s fingerprints. I had to keep from balling my fists as my cousin touched her repeatedly. Not in an intimate way…which is why it made me question why in the hell I wanted to rip my own cousin’s head off.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Mallory
“Okay, now don’t be nervous. Put your foot on the brake and put it in Drive.”
Doing as Liam said, I held my breath and pulled the gear shift down to Drive.
“Next, slowly ease off the brake and just steer down the driveway. You’ll come to a T. Turn to the left.”
“Are you sure about this? We don’t know if I even know how to drive.”
Liam placed his hand over mine, which was still on the gear shift. “You’ll be fine. Besides, there’s nothing out here that you can hit. Except a cow or a horse.”
My head shot to the right to look at him. “Liam!”
