His gaze hit Myles. He was instantly taken back to his basic training when he was a young, scrawny Myles and his sergeant stared him down.
“There was an altercation this evening,” Myles began, stepping into the room.
“I heard there was a shoot-out in town. That was y’all?” Earl set his drink on the table beside him. He sat forward and rested his elbows on his knees.
“Unfortunately,” Roxxy breathed.
“What happened?” Earl demanded.
Myles gave a quick recount of the events from the night, including their run-in with Korey and his gut feeling that they were being followed the entire night.
“The entire night? Even before we went to dinner?” Roxxy gasped. She spun on him. “Why didn’t you say something?”
“I didn’t want to ruin our night out. They hadn’t made a move, so I wasn’t sure what to expect.” From the second they’d left the hotel, he’d felt eyes on them. She had already been paying close attention to him, and he hadn’t wanted her to worry. They had been enjoying each other’s company, and he’d hoped that whoever was observing them wouldn’t have acted.
“Well, it was obvious you were expecting something, you had a gun on you!”
“As he should,” Earl interrupted. The older man pushed off from his seat and stood to his full height. He strolled over to them.
Had it not been for the graying of his hair, Myles wouldn’t have guessed the man would have a daughter Roxxy’s age.
He placed an arm around Roxxy’s shoulder and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “You are quite special, young lady, and I can’t help but respect your young man for being prepared in this situation.” Earl turned his attention to Myles.
He held his hand out to Myles who took the elder Sutton’s hand in a firm grip.
“She means a lot to me, sir. I’ll be damned if something was to happen to her,” Myles admitted. It was the God’s honest truth. He’d been pissed that the shooters had opened fire on them in public. He didn’t care that he’d been hit. If something would have happened to his Roxxy, there’d be hell to pay.
“That’s what I like to hear.” Earl nodded to Myles.
“What do you like to hear?” Mrs. Sutton breezed into the room with a wide grin. Her smile instantly faded when she took one glance at the three of them. “What’s going on?”
“I’m going to run upstairs and change my clothes. I’ll be back in just a second.” Roxxy brushed past them and disappeared.
“Looks like we need to head out to the shed, Momma,” Earl proclaimed. He quickly brought Shelby up to date.
Her face remained void of all emotion as she listened to her husband.
Shelby casually strolled over to a small nook behind the couch and pulled a rifle out. She swung it up on her shoulder and flickered her gaze between Earl and Myles.
“No one shoots at my baby and gets away with it.” She had a determined expression. The beautiful, middle-aged woman went from loving housewife to warrior in a blink of an eye.
This was one woman Myles wouldn’t want to cross. The way she’d handled the gun let Myles know she was intimately familiar with it.
It was official.
Myles was hopelessly in love with not only Roxxy, but her family.
“I’m ready,” Roxxy said from the doorway. She was no longer in her little sexy number. She was now in a black t-shirt, jeans, and sensible boots. Her hair was pulled back in a high ponytail, keeping the long tresses from her face.
Myles stalked across the room, unable to take his eyes off her. He pressed a hard kiss to her lips.
“Lead the way, Roxxy girl.”
Myles followed Roxxy around the side of the barn. His gaze swept the area, landing on a small vegetable garden that was plush and well cared for. He could imagine Roxxy out here tending to it. Roxxy glanced over her shoulder at him and tossed him a sassy wink.
Earl and Shelby pulled up the rear. He didn’t know where she was taking him, but watching her from behind, he knew he’d follow her anywhere.
They arrived at a storage shed a little way behind the barn, tucked into a thicket of trees.
“You, Officer Burton, are in for a treat,” she announced. Roxxy took a key and inserted it into the lock. She pushed open the door and faced him.
“Ladies first.” He waved to the dark space.
Roxxy and Shelby entered the building. A soft light lit up the room. The women disappeared from view.
“Burton,” Earl called.
Myles turned to find the older man standing next to him. “Yes, sir?”
“Those two women in there mean the world to me.” Earl’s voice dropped low.
He stepped closer to Myles who didn’t back away. Myles met the man’s unwavering gaze.
“I want to know what trouble you are bringing to my land.”
Myles sighed. “To be honest, sir, I’m not even sure. My sergeant had already gotten word and is looking into some leads for me.”
