“What happened here?” a female cop demanded. She and her partner, weapons drawn, ran through the back door. She stopped when she recognized the man sprawled on the floor, pinned by a strong-willed cowboy. “Well, well, well. Ray Dean. Why aren’t I surprised that you’d be in the middle of this?”

“Butt out.”

“Don’t think so.” She motioned for Luke to get up.

“We’ll take over from here, but all of you” her gaze swept the group and brooked no arguments “—will have to come down to the station to give your statements.”

Luke didn’t look at the cops, but walked straight to Katie and folded her tightly into his arms. “Thank God you’re okay,” he said, his breath hot as it ruffled her hair. She felt him tremble, heard his heart pounding and wanted to cling to him forever. Tears blocked her throat and her eyes burned. “I was so worried.” He kissed her crown and something inside her broke. She let the tears rain from her eyes and drooped against him, all of the fight and fire of her spirit finally collapsing. “Shh. You’re okay. I’m here.” She felt like a fool, an idiot of a woman, but was grateful that he was here, holding her, coming to her damned rescue.

“It’s all a mix-up,” Ray insisted as he climbed to his feet and the second cop, Officer Barnes, a thin man of thirty or so with an expression of someone who had already seen far too much, yanked Ray’s arms behind his back and snapped handcuffs on his wrists.

“Take it easy! I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Right,” the policewoman mocked. “Not a damned thing.”

“Ray Dean, you have the right to remain silent—” Barnes began reading Ray his rights, but the prisoner would have none of it. He looked at Katie and beneath the anger in his eyes, was a silent plea. “Look, I messed up.”

“Big time,” Katie said as Luke’s arms tightened around her.

“Shut up. You have the right to remain silent . . .” the officer began again.

Ray ignored him. “I want you to write my story. In your paper.”

She hesitated.

“Forget it, Dean,” Jarrod said. “Just get him out of here,” he ordered.

Luke wouldn’t let Katie go.

“You said you’d write it!” Dean argued.

“For God’s sake, man, you had a knife to her throat!” Luke’s face was red, his eyes narrowed in fury.

“I’ll think about it,” Katie said. Luke tensed.

“Are you nuts?” Jarrod was in her face now, his finger jabbing at her nose. “Do you know what he almost did to you? Katie, use your damned head!”

“This is my life, Jarrod,” she replied.

“And you nearly lost it! Get a clue, would you?”