Renegade (Tin Star K9 Series Book 1) by Jodi Burnett (fastest ebook reader .txt) 📕

who was calling her. Colt waved at her from up the block. He jogged toward her, and she raised her hand to wave in return. “Wait up.”

Caitlyn opened her truck door and Renegade sprang inside. She placed her shopping bag on the floor and with her heart hammering, she turned to wait for Colt.

“I didn’t know you were coming into town today.” Colt draped his arm from the top of the door and leaned against it.

Caitlyn raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t realize I was supposed to tell you when and where I’m going.”

Colt’s face bloomed into a bashful grin. “No, of course not. I’m just surprised to see you, that’s all.”

God, that smile will be the end of me. “How’s Dylan?”

“He’s as mad as a wet cat and still refusing to take a paternity test. Hague has agreed to take one, though.”

Frustration strained her words. “I told all of you to wait until Dylan had a chance to talk with an attorney.”

“I know, but Dylan told me there was no way he could be the father, so I figured what harm could it do?”

“That’s not the point, Colt.”

He perched his hands on his hips and gazed down at the ground. When he looked back up, Caitlyn saw concern written across his chiseled features. “I’m sorry about all this, Catie. Can I buy you a cup of coffee?”

Caitlyn needed Colt’s help if she was going to run any kind of proper investigation. There was bound to be information she could only get from him. At least that’s what she told herself when she answered. “Sure, okay. That would be nice. I need to see when I’m scheduled for my next shift at the café, anyway.” She called Ren to hop out of the truck, and when he did, he rubbed up against Colt’s knees, wagging his tail. Colt reached down and ruffled Ren’s tall pointy ears. Together, the three of them walked up to the café.

They chose a booth in the back, away from the windows near the sidewalk, in a vain attempt to not broadcast their meeting. Of course, this was a small town so everyone and their horse would know Caitlyn had coffee with Colt by dinnertime. Renegade curled up underneath the table and resting his chin on top of Caitlyn’s boot, he settled in for a snooze.

She blew across the shimmering surface of her coffee and regarded the sharp angle of Colt’s square jawline. “Do you have any new information concerning the case?”

He wrapped his hands around his warm mug and stared into it, perhaps hoping answers would float up in the steam. Eventually, Colt lifted his gaze to Caitlyn. “I really shouldn’t discuss the case with you.”

Caitlyn leaned back against the booth. “I suppose I ought to tell you, I’m running my own investigation.”

“What?”

“You heard me. I don’t trust Sheriff Tackett to give Dylan a fair shake. All he cares about is pinning Wendy’s murder on someone—anyone. Whether that person is actually guilty is of little consequence to him. Tackett just wants to look good for the voters.” She leaned forward on her arms and gazed into Colt’s bluish-green eyes. “But the person he wants to blame, is my brother. I have to help him. Don’t you see?”

“Absolutely not, Catie.” His gaze never wavered.

Caitlyn resumed her previous position, pressed back against the booth. “I don’t recall asking your permission.” They considered each other for a while before Caitlyn changed tact. “I saw Eleanor Smooter in the Mercantile this afternoon. I had forgotten she was dating the sheriff.”

Colt responded with a one-shoulder shrug. “So?”

“So, she practically shouted to the entire store that Dylan was at the jail—spouting out how he was going to be arrested for murder. No doubt she got that little tidbit from Tackett.” She speared him with a pointed look. “Apparently, it’s okay for him to discuss the case with others.” Caitlyn leaned forward and reached for Colt’s wrist. She gave him a gentle squeeze. “Look, if I could trust the sheriff to be fair and do a thorough investigation, I wouldn’t have to do it myself. But we both know I can’t.”

Colt dropped his gaze to Caitlyn’s fingers. She watched the muscles in his jaw working as he thought over what she said. Eventually, he looked back up into her face, his eyes filled with a wary sort of yearning. “I think you’re being a little hard on Sheriff Tackett. He’s trying to do his job. But if you’re determined to do this, I’ll try to help you the best I can.” He looked back at her hand on his arm. “As long as you understand, there will probably be things I won’t be able to discuss.” He covered her fingers with his.

Alarm bells rang between Caitlyn’s ears. She pulled her hand away from him. “I’d like your help, but that doesn’t mean anything has changed between us. I need to make that perfectly clear.” Her heartbeat ricocheted between her ribs. She was torn between wanting his hand on hers and running from him along with the pain she knew he was capable of causing her.

The green in his eyes deepened, and an almost imperceptible sigh escaped Colt’s chest. “Why can’t you forgive me, Catie? What happened was a long time ago. We were just kids—I was a stupid kid.”

“Maybe, but you really hurt me. Cheating is a deeply rooted character trait. One that comes from your core. You don’t get second chances after that—not with me. Especially after we…” Caitlyn let her words trail off. She didn’t have the emotional energy to debate this with him again. “Look, right now, all I want to focus on is finding Wendy Gessler’s murderer.”

“And if it turns out to be Dylan?”

“I need to know the truth. Either way.”

“Okay, Catie. We’ll do this your way. But I’m not giving up on resolving us.”

“There is no us.” Caitlyn wasn’t about to dredge up all that pain again. Ever. No matter how often she thought about nestling into Colt’s