swept the gym with another assessing glance. Now that she’d mentioned it, he could imagine a military unit holding formations in the gym when the weather outside was too cold, wet or snowy. A twinge of regret filled his belly. While he was pretty much playing the civilian Stateside, members of his unit were putting their lives on the line in some godforsaken country on the other side of the world. His fists clenched. “Nice that the building could be useful.” As much as he’d like to talk to the pretty woman with the long, wavy blond hair, he had work to do. The sooner they figured out who was at the bottom of all the troubles in Grizzly Pass, the sooner he could be back with his unit.
Besides, it would do him no good to get close to a female. His career was with the US Marine Corps. And he’d seen the devastation a career in the military could wreak on a family. He couldn’t do that to a woman, any more than he could do what Sierra’s ex-husband had done to her. No, he was single for a reason. Career military men had no business dragging families along with them.
“I’ll be going. If your ex gives you any more trouble, you can call me. I’ll be happy to step in as the protective boyfriend for as long as I’m here.” As long as that was as far as it went. He didn’t say it, but he thought it, specifically to remind him he wasn’t in Grizzly Pass to start anything. He was there to finish it.
He spun and walked out of the building and around to the front, where an entrance led into a hallway with what had once been the offices of the officers and enlisted men who’d run the unit. Now the doors were marked with the names of businesses. He found the one marked County Records and entered.
With the help of the clerk, he found the surveys and plats of the properties bordering the oil pipeline running through the hills on the south side of Yellowstone National Park.
He snapped photos with his cell phone, and on a notepad he jotted down the names of the people or corporations who owned the land. When he was finished, he tucked his notepad into his pocket. “Thank you,” he called out as he left the office. He’d been there for over an hour. He knew he should go straight to his truck and leave, but he couldn’t without first checking on Sierra. Back around the side of the armory, he found the entrance to the gym and day care.
Sierra stood with the little red-haired girl and a woman with equally red hair who had to be the child’s mother.
“She took a nap after the commotion, but she might continue to be distressed,” Sierra was saying. “I’m so sorry it happened in front of the children.”
The mother held her daughter close in her arms. “I’m just glad you’re okay. Don’t you worry about us. Take care of yourself.” The woman turned and stopped, her eyes wide. “Oh. I didn’t hear you come in.” Her eyes narrowed and she shot a glance back at Sierra. “Do you know him? I can stay if you need me to.”
Sierra smiled. “I know him. He’s the one who chased Clay away. The kids love him.”
As if on cue, the little red-haired toddler reached her arms up to T-Rex. “My turn.”
Her mother frowned.
“It’s okay.” Sierra nodded. “T-Rex had them all wanting a turn.”
Eloisa leaned farther out.
T-Rex grabbed her before she fell from her mother’s arms. “Do you mind?”
“I guess not.” Eloisa’s mother gave him a confused smile. “She doesn’t usually go to strangers.”
T-Rex swung her up into the air and back to the ground, then up again.
Eloisa giggled and laughed. When he handed her back to her mother, she clapped her hands and held them out. “Again.”
“Sorry, sweetie.” Her mother straightened the child on her hip and hiked her diaper bag up onto her shoulder. “We have to get home and cook supper.” She smiled, waved and exited, leaving Sierra alone in the gym with T-Rex.
“Are all of the others gone?” he asked.
“Everyone but me.” She retrieved her purse from a chair and slipped it over her shoulder. “I get to lock up tonight.”
“I’ll wait.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I know.” He waved a hand, indicating she should lead the way.
“Really. I can do this on my own.”
He touched her arm. “Look, you’re giving chivalry a bad name. After what happened today, I would feel better knowing you made it home safely.”
Her baby blue eyes sparkled, and her cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink. She pushed her long blond hair back over her shoulders. “Okay, then.” She led the way to the door.
T-Rex’s gut twisted and his groin tightened as she sailed past him, her slim hips swaying ever so slightly in her tan slacks.
He liked what he saw. Normally he would go after her and ask her out on a date. But his usual MO was to date and ditch. Based on what he’d witnessed of how her ex-husband had treated her, he couldn’t do that to Sierra. She needed a man who treated her like a princess, with all the love and caring she deserved. This woman was strictly off-limits.
She led him out of the building, closed the door and locked it behind them.
“So, you’re here with the others who’ve been loaned to the Department of Homeland Security?” she asked as they walked side by side to their vehicles.
“I am.” He paused beside her older-model sedan and waited for her to pop the locks. When she had, he opened the door for her.
She glanced up at him. “Thank you for all you did today.”
“You’re welcome.” She stood so close he could smell the subtle scent of her perfume. If he leaned forward just a little, he could capture her mouth with his. His pulse quickened and his gaze slipped from her shining blue eyes to those soft, full kissable lips.
“I... I’d better go. It’s getting dark.” She slipped into the car, closed the door and started the engine.
T-Rex stepped back, telling himself he was a fool to even think about kissing the woman. She was on the rebound from a bad marriage. He’d be doing her a favor to stay out of her life.
Sierra lowered the window. “If ever I can do anything for you, don’t hesitate to ask. I owe you big-time.”
He nodded, tempted to collect on her debt by requesting a kiss. Instead, he shook his head. “No repayment required. Just being a good citizen. I’ll follow you to make sure you get home okay.”
“This is a small town. It’s not necessary.” She smiled and backed out of the parking lot.
T-Rex waited until she disappeared down the winding drive heading away from the community center. Then he climbed into his truck and drove to his temporary quarters at a bed-and-breakfast off Main Street.
As he pulled into the parking lot, he noticed that one of the other vehicles parked at the very end looked familiar. He parked and got out. Could it be? He entered the big, rambling colonial home the owner had converted into a six-room bed-and-breakfast. Standing in the large living area was Sierra, talking to the owner, Mrs. McCall, two suitcases on the floor beside her.
She looked up as he entered, and her brow furrowed. “You didn’t have to follow me.”
“Mr. Trainor, I’m glad I caught you. I hope you don’t mind, but I had the handyman here today. He worked on the balcony door to keep it from sticking.”
“Thank you, Mrs. McCall,” he said, his gaze on Sierra, not the owner of the bed-and-breakfast.
“Oh, have you met Miss Daniels?” Mrs. McCall asked.
T-Rex nodded. “I have had the pleasure.”
“She’ll be staying with us while her apartment is being renovated.”
He