I hadn’t seen the body and almost stepped on it…

I stared and stared. Sweat dotted my forehead, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to vomit or bolt. I’d never seen a dead body before, not even at a wake all dressed and peaceful.

This guy had died violently, clearly flung from the car when it had either flipped or made impact with the ground after.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

I jumped and spun around at the rough voice. The same one who’d scolded me earlier at the bar. Huck. He loomed over me, half of him caught in deep shadow so he looked ominous.

I almost stumbled on the uneven ground, but his hand on my elbow kept me steady, then pulled me away from the body.

How was it I’d made it six years barely seeing the guy and now I couldn’t stop running into him? His touch was reassuring. Steadying.

I swallowed hard, bile in my throat. “I… I got called to tow a car.”

He finally stopped when we were back on the side of the road, lit by headlights from one of the police cars. He ran a hand over his face, then set it on the hilt of his weapon at his hip. He had on his Stetson and jeans but looked official in his uniform shirt with the shiny star on the chest and utility belt. He hadn’t been wearing it earlier at the Lucky Spur. I had no idea why I thought of that now.

If his weary eyes were any indicator, he hadn’t slept all that much either. But they were sharp, narrowed. His jaw was clenched and covered in whiskers. Even lit up by the harsh red and blue lights, I couldn’t miss that he was pissed.

He glanced over his shoulder. “Where the hell is Roy?”

I didn’t answer his question, only blinked at him, then shivered. “That guy… God, Huck, that guy—”

I was yanked against Huck’s solid chest, and his arms went around me. One big hand slid up and down my back. The other cupped my head. My cheek was pressed into his uniform shirt, and I started to cry.

It was because a guy had died in a car accident, definitely. But Huck was holding me, giving me comfort. I’d relied on him to protect me when we’d dated, and I’d loved it. Craved the way I’d felt safe. I’d forgotten what his hugs were like. How he smelled. In the fresh night air I breathed in his scent. Rugged and dark. Laundry detergent but also man. He was warm and steady, powerful and protective.

“I’m sorry you saw that, baby girl,” he murmured, then kissed my hair. “Just take a minute.”

I nodded against his chest and slowly pulled myself together. I should be hating him after what he’d said earlier, but I couldn’t. Not now.

With a gentle tug on my hair, he tipped my head back so I had to look up at him. “Where the hell is Roy?”