root. He needed freedom, after his past. “Huh. Austin? Are we in cahoots?” he asked, unable to keep the amusement out of his voice.
By the narrowing of Austin’s gray eyes, he wasn’t in the mood to play. “No. In fact, I believe we have a lot going on right now, brother. Give the phone back to the woman.”
My woman. The thought hit Trent before he could stop it. Nope. Definitely not going there. He handed the phone over, watching her carefully.
Her hands were small and her nails natural with a light cream-colored polish. She took a deep breath before looking down at the phone. “Yes, Sheriff?”
“What’s your last name, sweetheart?” Austin asked.
She tried so hard to keep her expression neutral that Trent wanted to wince. “Smith.”
No way. She hadn’t really said Smith, had she? Trent barked out a laugh, unable to help himself. She jolted, her wide eyes swinging to him. Then that pretty jaw firmed, and it was all he could do not to take a bite out of it. Her sweetness, maybe even innocence, smashed him right in the heart. But that stubborn challenge in her eyes—well now. That hit him much farther south.
He leaned closer to the phone, seeing the realization dawn across Austin’s rugged face.
His brother shook his head. “I take it you don’t need me to send Mac out to meet with you?”
While they all could detect falsehoods, Mac was a human lie detector with unreal skills.
“I don’t think he’s needed,” Trent said dryly. Hallie really was the worst liar he’d ever seen. Why did that intrigue him so?
“Cute and sweet are a dangerous combination for you, brother,” Austin warned, acceptance already lightening his tone.
Trent grinned. “And not for you?”
“Nope. I just want obedience from my woman,” Austin said quietly. “Pretty much demand it, actually, which is why I haven’t found her.” He sighed. “I guess this is the next step for us, right?” Then he handed his phone over to his receptionist. “Reassure Miss . . . Smith that she’s safe with Trent.”
Ethel Ryerson grinned into the phone. “Hey there. You’re safe. These boys are wild, but they’d never hurt a woman. Or anybody, really.” Her white hair was streaked with blue today, which matched her eyeshadow. Her skin was weathered but impressively unlined for a woman over the age of eighty. She ruled the sheriff ’s office with homemade donuts and an iron fist, and sometimes it seemed she was from an age long gone by. “Although, if you’re in trouble, you might as well confess all right now, cause they’re gonna want to fix it.”
Hallie leaned away from the phone. “I’m not in trouble. Well, except for my car being a mess without control arms.”
Ethel frowned. “What are control arms?”
“Right? I have no idea, but apparently they’re important.” Hallie sighed. “Thank you for reassuring me.”
“Sure thing,” Ethel said. “Come on into town one day and I’ll give you the scoop about everybody.”
Hallie plucked at a string on her jeans. “That’s kind of you. Thanks.”
Oh, it was clear as day that Miss Hallie had no plans to stay in town. Trent rubbed his chest. He had to keep things casual, and apparently that was fine with her. Good. She brought a light to the day that he hadn’t realized was dark, and that had to mean something, right? Just temporarily, though.
It was fast and it was crazy, but he’d stopped being a normal guy a long time ago in a rodent-infested cell on the other side of the world. They all had. When he found something good, something he needed, he didn’t hesitate to enjoy the moment.
Hallie was good, and something told him she was needed. But she also wasn’t casual, and he couldn’t take advantage of her. He’d never been friends with a woman—maybe that’s what they both needed.
Yeah. He could banish the aching desire he had for her. Well, probably.
Austin came back on the line. “There’s another storm moving in tonight, so I’ll meet you guys in the south pastures this afternoon to repair what we can. You know what I need you to bring.”
Trent took the phone. “I can handle it alone.”
“I’m sure you can, but that’s nonnegotiable.” Austin didn’t smile.
Trent nodded. That was fair. Austin was the president of the group, the sheriff, and had a right to protect everyone. “Okay.” He’d bring something with her prints on it so Austin could run them through the system. They might as well know what they were up against. He tossed