Too Sexy for his Stetson Read Online Free

and humiliate her in front of her coworkers?
    Inside the air conditioned office, she held her breath as Todd Christiansen, a deceptively baby–faced deputy, looked up from his computer, his red hair slightly mussed. “Oh good, Brandy. I see you’ve met Lieutenant Beringer.”
    “Er… yeah.”
    Beringer flipped off his Stetson and smiled in her direction. “We stumbled into each other out by Elk Ridge Trail.”
    Despite the climate control, sweat trickled down Brandy’s back.
    “We had a run–in with some possible Neo Nazis,” Beringer went on to say, “at that cabin where the hikers were hassled Friday. Fortunately, Deputy Wilcox was armed.”
    Heat flushed Brandy’s cheeks. The drop–your–Levis scene played in her head. Here it comes…
    “Six assailants opened fire on us.”
    “No shit?” Christiansen’s freckle–faced expression turned animated.
    “I’d say that makes it open season on anyone sporting Nazi tattoos or insignias—we bring them in for questioning.”
    “It’s about time.” Christiansen signaled his approval with a thumbs up.
    “Which reminds me, Brandy, if push comes to shove during an arrest, you are up to speed on probable cause and fairness in apprehension, right?” Beringer’s blue eyes sparkled.
    Not crumbling, Beringer. She squared her shoulders. “Yes sir, Lieutenant. I may be inexperienced, but I haven’t shot anyone inadvertently. Not yet, anyway.”
    Christiansen pushed away from the desk and teetered on the back legs of his chair. “Am I missing something here?”
    “Ask Annie Oakley.” Beringer half smiled and gestured toward his office. “Deputy Wilcox, if you’ve got a minute, I’d like your input on this report.”
    She walked purposely, following him into his office. After the door banged shut, she leaned against it. “So, Lieutenant Beringer, how long does this game last?” Field training officer be damned, he was not going to take advantage of her.
    “What?”
    “Like you said, my method of detainment may have been unorthodox, but I got the job done. No one in this office needs to know the specifics of the way we met.”
    “Unorthodox? That’s a good way of putting it.”
    She nailed him with her best don’t–mess–with–me scowl.
    “Sorry,” he said, lifting his wide shoulders, his face all blue–eyed boyish innocence. “I’ve never had a beautiful woman order me to undress at gunpoint.”
    Right. He probably had women lining up to undress him.
    “You’re right, though.” He eased onto the swivel desk chair, looking every inch the figure of authority he was. “That’s too much information for the rest of the crew around here. Your unique method of apprehension is safe with me. Promise.”
    Promise.
    She didn’t have enough fingers and toes to count the times she’d been on the receiving end of broken promises. But when he targeted her with his gaze, she almost believed him…
    The ringing of his phone interrupted.
    “Excuse me.” He snatched the receiver and leaned back, stretching until the tips of his boots poked out from the desk. “Hey, Coogan. Long time no see.”
    Coogan?
    Oh. My. God . Her stomach dropped.
    “How are things going? We’re practically neighbors…” Beringer said.
    Brandy zoned out. Her insides clenched. The mention of Coogan’s name blasted her back ten years, making her feel like the powerless kid she’d been when Skip Coogan had sent her world crashing to pieces. Vaguely aware that Beringer had clicked the mute button, she bit her cheek to keep her jaw from trembling.
    “Do you mind if I take this?” he asked. “It’s an old friend.”
    “Of course.”
    “We’ll finish up as soon as I’m done with this call, okay?”
    “Uh, sure. I’ll just… be at my desk.” She opened the door and backed out.
    Damn, damn, damn. She’d been in Little Chute for a month and had avoided confronting Coogan. She couldn’t fall apart at the first mention of his name. At some point, they’d clash head–on.