into the tight muscle of his uninjured forearm. The skin beneath that dusting of freckles on her cheeks had paled. She understood that Calderón wasn’t the type of man who left innocent witnesses to his activities alive to talk about them. “They’re expendable, aren’t they? We have to find them and make sure they’re okay.”
“Easy, sweetheart.” Bull couldn’t help it if the endearment slipped out. He needed to see a smile on her face again. He at least needed to see a little bit of that lifelong faith in him shining in her eyes. With a gentle fingertip, he caught that long curl that refused to stay in her ponytail and tucked it behind her ear. “I won’t let anybody get hurt.”
“I know you won’t.” Despite her fear for her students’ safety, Tracy was smart enough to realize the importance of moving quickly on this. She rested her hand at the center of his chest and nudged him toward the hallway. “If Brittany was with one of those boys, then he would have been the last person to see her before the kidnapping.”
Bull finished her thought. “And talking to him could put us that much closer to finding her.”
“Then you need to hurry. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Don’t set up a clandestine meeting with any drug dealers while I’m gone?”
That triggered a smile. “I won’t. How about I wait here and keep an eye on your dad—make sure he stays out of trouble.” She nodded toward the Christmas tree at the front end of the room. “Maybe we could string a few more lights on that tree. Looks like he hasn’t quite bought out all of Serpentine’s supply of decorations yet.”
“Sounds like a plan.” And then, because it seemed like the right thing to do, Bull dipped his head and pressed a quick, chaste kiss to her soft smile. But her fingers folded into the placket of his shirt and she stretched up on tiptoe to cling to his mouth for a few seconds more. He inhaled a breath of her clean, citrusy scent. Her other hand came up to cup his jaw and hang on to him. Her mouth opened at the touch of his tongue and her moist heat swept through him. His fingers tunneled under the silky weight of her ponytail as he palmed her nape to anchor her lips beneath his and give full reign to this impromptu kiss.
Wait. He was kissing Tracy Cobb?
Confusion darkened her eyes and ricocheted like a shot inside him when he lifted his head. She’d felt it, too. That zing of rightness. That sudden heat. An undeniable connection between them. Her lips were pink and decadently parted as quick, warm breaths snuck between them and caressed the sensitive skin at the base of his throat. What the hell...?
“Trace?” His uneven breaths mingled with hers. He narrowed his eyes in a frown, trying to make sense of what was happening here. “Was that weird?”
“Virgil McCabe...” Heat instantly dotted her cheeks. She blinked the confusion from her eyes and released his crumpled shirtfront. Was she angry about that kiss? Had he overstepped some line he shouldn’t? He knew he tended to be a little impulsive, but she’d been right here in the room with him, kissing him back. “Sometimes you’re totally clueless for a detective.”
“Tracy—”
“You coming, Bull?” Wyatt came out of the office and strode past them. A chuff on the shoulder reminded Bull that they needed to move.
“Right behind you.” Bull spared one more look at Tracy’s flushed cheeks and tilted chin before turning to follow his brother. He could still feel those hands on his skin, clutching at him like she meant it.
“Boss!” The screen door slammed back in the kitchen. Maria squealed and a pan clattered to the floor. “Boss!” Bull exchanged a glance with Wyatt and hurried out to meet the sound of booted feet running across the house’s hardwood floors. He reached the hallway and Rusty Fisher plowed into him. He caught the older cowboy by the shoulders, steadying him on his feet before releasing him. Red-faced and panting for breath, Rusty looked from one brother to the other. “Bull? Wyatt?”
“What’s wrong?” Bull asked. Did the horses have reason to be restless?
Tracy and his father filled the archway behind them. “What is it, Rusty?” Justice demanded.
“The southwest pasture, down by the river.” His chest heaved with one more deep breath. “It’s on fire.”
* * *
INTERVIEWING THE TWO BOYS Brittany might have been helping cross the