The Lawman's Rebel Bride Read online

  “—silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand these rights I have just read to you?”

  “Is it even legal for you to arrest your own wife?” Belle tried to squeeze her hands out of the cuffs.

  “I can and I just did.” Harlan led her to his police cruiser and opened the door. “Look where we are again. Watch your head.”

  He slammed the door and left her there for the next half hour. So much for today’s happiness. Surely, he’d release her as soon as he got back. Harlan wouldn’t take her to jail. Would he?

  Chapter Seven

  “You can’t leave her in there,” Bryan said. “Judge Sanders will have your badge for tying up his courtroom over this. Technically, she can say the trailer was community property and she had every right to use it.”

  “She doesn’t know that. Let her stew in there for a little while longer. Her heart was in the right place, but if she had gotten away with taking that bull and someone reported the plates on my trailer, I’d have more than one problem on my hands.” Harlan watched her cell on the monitor. “She’ll survive another hour.”

  “Harlan,” Sheriff Bill Parker called to him across the station. “My office.”

  “Here we go.” Harlan trudged down the hall.

  “Have a seat.” Bill closed the door behind him. “You got married when? August 1, right?”

  Harlan nodded.

  “And what time is it now?” The older man glanced at the clock on the wall. “Five after midnight on Friday. So, you haven’t even been married for ten and a half days, give or take a few hours. Am I right?”

  Harlan groaned. Their conversation was headed in the direction he’d hope to avoid. “Yes, you’re correct.”

  “Then can you please explain why your wife has been arrested twice during that time?”

  “Well, sir—”

  “We all agreed to drop the trespassing charge due to the animal cruelty charges against the Huffington cattle ranch. And for the record, I know your wife’s employer was a part of all of this, but I overlooked it to keep the peace in your family. And can you also explain why you arrested Belle for the theft of marital property?”

  “I wanted to teach her a lesson. It’s not a real arrest. I wanted her to think it was, though. I’ll release her soon.”

  Bill placed both hands and his desk and leaned over it. “You’ll release her before this goes any further than this department.”

  “Yes, sir. Should I do it right this second?”

  Bill straightened. “Harlan, get out of my office!”

  He scrambled for the door. He hadn’t heard the sheriff yell at anyone since a rookie drove their cruiser into the Swan River. He grabbed Belle’s personal belongings from his desk, swiped his key card and entered the holding cells. Belle sat on a bench, with a half smile plastered across her face. He’d planned on letting her out once the Huffington gang was through with booking.

  “Voices carry around here at night.” There was no disguising her grin. She knew he’d gotten reamed out for his prank. “Serves you right.”

  Harlan unlocked her door and crooked his finger at her. “Come here.”

  Belle remained seated, her eyes wide. “No, thanks. I’m good.”

  “Oh, no, you’re not. I’m going home and you’re coming with me.”

  “I need to get my truck and your trailer.”

  “Already taken care of. I had your truck parked in the impound lot for safekeeping overnight. You can get it tomorrow.”

  “Thanks a lot, Harlan. I didn’t even deserve to get arrested and now I have to pay for my truck. You’re a real prize of a husband.” She grabbed the bag from his hands and pushed past him, waiting for him to unlock the holding area doors.

  “You don’t have to pay to pick up your truck tomorrow. It’s just there for the night.”

  “Fine.”

  “Fine.”

  They stood in the hallway facing each other. “If you don’t mind, I have little ones at home to feed.”

  “After you.” Harlan swept his hand to the side. “Come on. Admit it. I got you good that time.”

  Belle’s hand froze on the doorknob. “I’m tired of you getting me.” She faced him. “I’m tired of being a joke. Your joke.”

  “I thought we were past all of that.”

  “So did I.” She turned away. “I guess your plan backfired. It gave me time to think.”

  “Wait.” Harlan reached for her, feeling her body stiffen beneath his touch. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have arrested you tonight.” He held her face gently. “You did everything I had asked and I failed you. I should have called and given you an update when I knew I couldn’t get there. I should have tried harder, and I didn’t.”

  “Harlan.” Her eyes fluttered closed. She had no idea how sensuous she sounded when she said his name.

  Her moistened lips begged for him to taste them. To apologize properly and kiss them the way a man should kiss his wife. His mouth covered hers. He fought to maintain control, but the fervent need to claim her overtook him. Her lips parted, allowing entry with his tongue. Slow languid strokes in time with her own. Her fingers found his chest and splayed across it. He ached for her touch everywhere. Softly, he broke the kiss and reached behind her to open the door. He planned to make love to his wife tonight and the police station wasn’t the place.

  * * *

  DESIRE COILED DEEP within Belle during the silent ride home. Harlan’s fingers, strong and firm, entwined with hers. She needed to experience those fingers on her bare skin in the most intimate of places. Tonight she’d allow herself the pleasure of being with the man who drove her utterly mad in the most delicious ways, even though she knew she shouldn’t. The chance of reliving the passion they’d once shared was impossible to refuse. To feel his love and tenderness, if only for a few hours.

  When his cruiser braked alongside his house, her skin prickled in anticipation. She waited for Harlan to open the passenger door. She took his hand as she stepped out, allowing him to fold her into his embrace. His mouth devoured hers. His thumb grazed her engorged nipple over her shirt, circling and teasing. Belle felt his hardness against her, needing to feel it within her.

  She pushed away from him. “Slow down, cowboy.” She inhaled the night air. “I have to feed Lillie and Samson first.”

  Harlan kissed the side of her neck and nibbled at her ear before whispering, “I’ll feed Samson. I can’t wait much longer.”

  Belle’s body tingled as his lips trailed over her skin, sending shocks straight to her core. He led her inside the stables and continued to press kisses against her neck as she prepared two bottles of formula. She handed him one to take down to Samson while she stayed in the apartment and fed Lillie. The piglet devoured her midnight snack and Belle fixed her fresh bedding before ducking into the bathroom. Between the work, tonight’s rescue and jail, she needed a shower before she allowed Harlan to see her naked.

  She turned on the faucet, letting the water heat as she slipped out of her clothes. Steam filled the room, engulfing her in luxurious warmth. She opened the shower door as the bathroom door eased open. Harlan, raw and naked as the day he was born, entered the room. His hands sought hers as his lips claimed her bare breasts. Her body arched against him, yearning for more. He guided her under the tepid liquid, allowing it to trickle between them. His fingers caressed her in ways she’d remembered in her dreams. Tonight they belonged to each other. She’d worry about the consequences in the morning.

  * * *

  HOURS LATER, BELLE awoke next to Harlan. The light of the moon cast a silvery glow around the room. She stretched. Her body still tingled from the glorious passion she’d experienced numerous times durin
g the night with the only man she’d ever shared a bed with. She lifted the covers, soaking in his nakedness. She could get used to this. But was she able to forgive him enough to move forward together into the future?

  Somewhere between jail and home every wrong between them had been righted. They had even gone one step further and consummated their marriage. She wasn’t sure they qualified for an annulment after that repeated act. The sudden urge to want to stay married to Harlan unnerved her. She had Ivy to consider and the impact it would have on the child.

  Belle slid out of bed and padded to the window, grabbing his shirt along the way. She adored Ivy. More than she ever thought she would. She also wanted children of her own one day. Did Harlan want more kids? She wasn’t even sure how to ask that question so soon into the relationship. Then again, it had been anything but conventional so far. Why stop now?

  Belle pulled the shirt tight across her chest. The room had chilled dramatically since they had arrived home. When she turned to make sure Lillie was warm enough, she noticed a faint glow at the entrance of the ranch drive. Were those dashboard lights? There was a flash of red and then the faint sound of an engine starting. Whoever it was must have stepped on the brakes first.

  “Harlan,” Belle whispered. She tiptoed across the room, uncertain why she was being quiet. “Harlan.” She sat on the side of the bed and lightly shook his hand. “There’s someone outside.”

  “What?” He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her next to him. “It’s too early and you have too many clothes on,” he murmured. “Take them off so I can make love to you again.”

  “Harlan, there’s a—”

  His fingers slipped between her thighs, causing her to cease speaking. Someone most likely got lost. By sunup they’d be gone. Why waste time worrying about a stranger? She shed his shirt and tossed it onto the floor, relishing the feel of his rigid body against hers.

  “Do you want more kids?” Belle panted between strokes.

  “Yes.” Harlan’s voice was husky with desire. “Let’s practice making babies now.” He rolled her onto her back and he eased himself on top of her. “There’s nothing I’d love more than raising a family with you.”

  Welcome back, happiness.

  * * *

  THE ALARM FROM his phone coming from the other side of the room woke him. He hated leaving the comfort of Belle’s arms, but he had to be at work by seven. After last night, he couldn’t afford to be late.

  His bare feet hit the cold floorboards. He had to convince Belle to move into the main house sooner rather than later. He no longer saw any reason for her not to. It wasn’t as though they weren’t already married. Harlan watched Belle’s sleeping form before he tore himself from the bed and turned off the alarm.

  They deserved a proper honeymoon. That would be new to both of them. They hadn’t had enough money for one when they planned their first wedding, and his shotgun marriage to Molly hadn’t warranted one.

  He stepped into his boxer briefs and tugged them on as he gazed out the window overlooking their ranch. It was a long time coming, but it was finally theirs together. Maybe they’d even add to their little brood in the near future. It was more than wishful thinking. Last night had been the culmination of years of waiting to openly love Belle the way he should have eight years ago. He’d been wrong when he told Ivy they wouldn’t have a happy-ever-after. Harlan wasn’t a romantic man, but damned if Belle didn’t bring it out in him.

  A car idling at the entrance to his ranch caught his attention. The area around the vehicle was practically engulfed in exhaust. From what he could see, it didn’t look familiar either. He had a vague recollection of Belle telling him someone was outside during the night. It had to be the same person. Not many people wandered onto his ranch.

  He finished dressing and tugged on his boots. Lillie stood at the door of her carrier with a blanket half draped over her back. “Good morning, little one.” He rubbed her head through the wire door. “Let me wake your mommy.” A week and a half with Belle and he was already talking to the animals. “Belle, honey.” He stroked the side of her cheek before placing a light kiss against it. “Lillie’s waiting for you.”

  She slowly sat up in bed and blinked away the sleep. “Good morning.” She smiled. He had waited far too long to wake up to that smile. “You’re already dressed?”

  “It’s a little after six and I have to get to work. Did you try to tell me there was someone outside earlier?”

  Belle nodded. “They were sitting at the entrance. I figured they made a wrong turn or something.”

  “Whoever it was is still there.”

  “What?” The sheet slipped down around her waist, exposing her breasts. It took every ounce of his strength not to spend the next hour or two making love to her again. “That’s odd.”

  “I’ll check it out.” He gave her a quick kiss. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”

  “Be careful.” Belle watched him fasten his police duty belt before climbing out of bed. She wrapped the sheet around her and looked out the window. “That’s the same spot they were in last night.”

  “I’ll make us some coffee, too. And, Belle, I didn’t realize how cold it was up here in the morning during the summer. You need to stay with your husband in the house. And we need to do a whole lot more of this.” He pointed to the bed. “Much, much more.”

  Belle’s cheeks flushed at his insistence. “Let’s discuss it later. You have Ivy to consider.”

  “Fair enough.” He tipped his hat. “I’ll meet you up at the house.”

  The muscles in his legs ached as he descended the stable’s stairs. The last time he’d had that intense of a workout was in the police academy. He gave the interior of the stables a quick scan before heading outside. As he approached the waiting car, the engine cut off and a woman stepped from it.

  His heart stopped beating.

  Molly.

  * * *

  MOLLY! EVEN FROM the second story of the stables Belle recognized her. Had she heard that Belle and Harlan had gotten married and rushed back to town to louse it up? “Brava, Molly.” Belle clapped. “Your timing is impeccable.”

  She wanted to run downstairs and confront her former friend. And not just for her sake, but for Ivy’s, too. It had been a long time coming, but she thought better of it. The last thing she needed to do was make a scene smelling like sex. Especially considering she lived in the stables and Harlan lived in the house. Molly would never let her live that down.

  She trusted Harlan. Didn’t she? She had to. Granted that hadn’t worked in her favor where Molly was concerned in the past, but they had both grown since then. She couldn’t fathom Harlan ever forgiving Molly for walking out on Ivy.

  Belle took a deep breath and jumped in the shower. She did some of her best thinking in there. Maybe Molly would be gone by the time she dressed and went downstairs. Just in case, she took extra care applying her makeup, which she normally didn’t put on before work. Horses and cattle didn’t care what she looked like. Her grandmother always said women wore makeup to impress other women. She had never believed that statement until right now.

  After feeding her animals, she casually strolled out the back of the stables with Lillie on a leash. The car was still out front, but Harlan and Molly were nowhere in sight. She wasn’t sure what she had hoped to accomplish by sneaking around...maybe overhear a conversation? But there didn’t seem to be anything or anyone to spy on.

  “This is silly. I’m an adult and I just spent the night in my husband’s arms. I am not scared of some has-been.” Belle laughed to herself. “More like Molly never was.”

  She waited for Lillie to finish her business outside, and did a few chores in the barn before heading to the house for that long-overdue cup of coffee. It was almost seven. Both she and Harlan needed to leave soon. She still had to pick up her truck from
the impound lot.

  She entered the kitchen, not expecting to see Molly sitting at the table. Her first instinct was to claw the woman’s eyes out. The second was to run and avoid the drama altogether. She had enough going on in her life and she didn’t need whatever baggage Molly brought with her making it worse. Instead, she crossed the room to the coffeepot, feeling the burn of her ex-friend’s stare against her back. Belle poured herself a cup and faced her.

  “This is a surprise,” Molly said without blinking.

  You bet your sweet bippy it’s a surprise. “I’m sure it is.”

  “How long have you two been together?” she asked.

  “You mean how long have Belle and I been married?” Harlan corrected.

  “Oh, well I guess you two finally got what you always wanted.”

  Belle scoffed. “You meant what you took from me.”

  “I never took Harlan from you.” Molly remained impassive, still staring. “He had already left you when he and I got together. You’re blaming the wrong person.”

  “I blame both of you.” Belle closed the distance between them. “The two closest people to me stabbed me in the back. Romances come and go and if Harlan and I had broken up, that would have been one thing. But I thought of you as a sister. My grandmother treated you like a daughter. Your betrayal stunned me more than his. His hurt like hell, but yours broke every girl code out there.” Belle held up her hands. “But I’ve moved past all of that.”

  “Clearly.” Molly scanned her top to bottom. “I don’t get it. Why did you two spend the night in the stables?”

  “Because we have some orphaned animals and we’re keeping a close eye on them,” Harlan answered. “Not that it’s any of your business.”

  “Molly, what do you want?”

  “She wants Ivy,” Harlan ground out. “And as I told her, over my dead body.”

  Chapter Eight

  Belle was still reeling over Molly’s arrival when she remembered this morning’s court appearance. Once again, her life had done a complete one-eighty overnight.