The Chance of a Lifetime Read online

  Boredom was a bad thing for people who like to eat, Lacey thought as she mixed herself a glass of chocolate milk. She stood at the sink, chugging her milk while waiting for the toaster to pop. A movement in her backyard caught her attention causing her hand to still in mid-air.

  Her heart seemed to have stopped for a brief second before it resumed at a racing speed. Her hand started to tremble as she squinted into the night, once again catching sight of the dark figure moving stealthily away from her home toward the fence separating her yard from that of the neighbors.

  Fear turned quickly to anger and before she could think twice about it, Lacey was racing toward the back door. Barefoot with nothing more than an ankle length flowing gown to cover her body, she flung the door wide and stepped out onto the porch.

  Cupping her hands around her mouth, she yelled at the retreating figure. “This isn’t funny Chance! Next time my broom will be the least of your worries.”

  Once over the chain link fence the dark figure stopped and turned. It was then that Lacey realized the person quickly vacating her backyard was too small to be Chance. Her knees almost buckled at the realization, making it hard for her to reach the relative safety of her still-dark kitchen.

  When brain function returned, Lacey cursed her stupidity for ever thinking Chance would be so underhanded. He might be an overbearing jerk but he would never take to sneaking around.

  After securing the back door and the kitchen windows, Lacey went from room to room doing the same. Her mind was still whirling with the implications of what could have happened. The call she’d placed to the police brought two cars screaming up the street. The last thing on earth Lacey wanted to do was admit she’d scared off a would-be burglar by yelling at him but there wasn’t much choice when it came to talking to Officer Dodson. Small town Sheriff or not, the man could probably interrogate a rock and come up with the truth.

  A sharp knock on the office door of her home made her jump. “Police, Ms. Winslow. Stay inside with the door locked until we take a look around out here.”

  Lacey was on tiptoes, her face pressed to the door looking through the peephole. No way in hell was she taking any chances. She nodded her head at the officer’s words; then realized he wouldn’t be able to hear the marbles rolling around in her evidently empty skull.

  “He was in the backyard.”

  There was no forthcoming answer from the other side of the door, which worried Lacey. She wouldn’t be able to live with herself if something happened to one of those men because of her, whether it was her fault or not.

  Lacey followed the voices, keeping an eye on the men, following them from window to window as they made their way around back. For several minutes they stood huddled, flashlights in hand at her bedroom window. Feeling much safer due to the sheer number of them, she donned her robe and once again made for the back door.

  Going through the back door and out into the yard, Lacey made her way to where the officers were talking. Four sets of eyes snapped to her the second she came into view.

  “I’ll be with you in just a minute, ma’am. Please wait in the house until the area has been secured.”

  He spoke the words in a no nonsense tone, his eyes scanning her yard, taking note of the other two officers looking around. Lacey’s gaze followed his, also finding the other officers. She was rooted to the spot just watching when she heard him mumble under his breath.

  “Just like Chance said, she don’t listen for shit.”

  “Excuse me, I didn’t quite catch that?” Lacey said the words as sarcastically as possible, her hands balled on her hips. The man was rude as hell.

  Lacey’s ears rang with the round of curses that followed. “Back into the house Ms. Winslow.”

  “Now wait just a minute…” she started, only to be cut off.

  “Now.” This time the growled command came from a different man. Lean and mean, with his jaw rigidly set, Doug Pennington didn’t look like a happy man. He also didn’t look like a man Lacey wanted to battle wills with.

  Turning on her heel, she stalked her way back to the back porch, cursing small town sheriffs all the way. Once there, she waited impatiently for the men to finally decide she was worthy enough to talk to. After all, she fumed, it was only her house that was almost broken into.

  The words didn’t even have the chance to leave her lips before she was led into her house by a firm grip at her elbow. Lacey briefly wondered if all men were as pigheaded as the ones in her town. She then felt guilty for her thoughts since they were willing to put their lives on the line for her.

  “Please sit down Ms. Winslow, and tell me what happened.” The words came from Officer Dodson. His voice was low and gravelly.

  “I couldn’t sleep so I came into the kitchen for a snack.” Motioning to the now cold toast, Lacey tried to hide her nervousness. “I was standing at the sink when I noticed a movement off to the side. It took me a minute before I realized what it was, then I…”

  She gave herself a mental kick in the ass. Only two of the officers were in the room but she had no doubt word of her escapade would get around. Being berated or laughed at for the rashness of her actions wasn’t high on Lacey’s list of accomplishments.

  “And then you what, Ms. Winslow?” Officer Pennigton might have a bit of gray at his temples but there was definitely nothing soft about him. Standing with his legs braced apart, hands at his sides, he was as menacing as they came.

  Their eyes bore into her and Lacey knew beyond the shadow of a doubt she was not going to make it through the conversation without spilling every detail. She huffed a sigh of irritation and resignation. Lifting herself from her seat at the kitchen table, she walked back to the window where it had all started.

  “I ran out the back door and yelled at him.” Her body tensed for the explosion. It wasn’t as loud as it could have been but the string of muttered curses coming from behind her was enough to instill pride into the crudest of sailors.

  It wasn’t so much Officer Dodson’s curses that bothered her as much as it was Officer Pennigton’s bark of laughter.

  “Don’t laugh at me dammit! I thought it was Chance. It wasn’t until I’d yelled at him and he turned that I realized this man wasn’t nearly as big as Chance.”

  Both men narrowed their eyes, both laughter and cursing stilled instantly. “Why would you think it was Chance?” Officer Dodson asked.

  Lacey rolled her eyes. Anyone with eyes and ears had heard about the day Chance had barged into her place of business and gotten run back out by the end of a broom.

  “Because he’s a menace, that’s why. The damned idiot won’t leave me alone.”

  “I think it’s called ‘courting.’ “ This came from Officer Pennigton. Lacey remained silent, merely lifting a brow at his old-fashioned choice of words.

  The rest of the conversation was professional. The two officers went over every detail, making notes in their handy dandy little notebooks while lecturing Lacey on safety. By the time they were finished she was bored. Surely she’d be able to fall asleep now.

  * * * *

  The ringing of his phone startled Chance out of a dead sleep. He leapt from the bed, stubbing his toe in the process. When he lifted the receiver, a litany of foul words were still leaving his lips.

  “Good morning to you too, sweetheart.” The mocking words caused Chance’s brows to knit into a frown. It wasn’t until the voice on the other end of the line spoke again that Chance finally realized who in the hell it was.

  “What’s happened, Mike?” Chance was wide awake now and waiting, his patience at an all time low.

  “Not much buddy, except that someone tried to break into your lady’s house.” Chance stilled at the words spoken through the line. “She’s fine and Doug is keeping watch until morning when you can come into town.”

  “I’m on my way. Tell Doug I said thanks but he’s free to go as soon as I get there.”

  Mike chuckled on the other end of the line. “Do that and we’ll both
end up with broomstick bruises.”

  “I don’t give a good Goddamn, Mike. I won’t fucking sit by while something happens, I’ve waited too damned long.”

  An impatient sigh made its way to Chance through the phone line before Mike once again spoke. “Your lady wasn’t too happy when we left and until the sun peeks over the horizon tomorrow morning, my investigation is over. I’ve roped off the scene and Doug is staying. I’m thinking you might be able to use the next few hours to cool down some.”

  He wanted more than anything to climb into his truck and tear into town. The thought of her in danger, even minimal danger, was enough to make him crazy. “If something happens to her tonight, I’ll be taking it out of Doug’s ass,” Chance growled into the phone. Another chuckle met his ear.

  “I’ll be there at first light.”

  Chance slammed the earpiece back on the receiver then marched up the hall cursing all the way. He was dressed within minutes and left with nothing to do but stare into the dark. It would be at least an hour before he could even make his way to the stables to tend to the horses.

  Once finished with the horses, he’d stop by the main house and talk to Clay before heading into town. Moving out of the main ranch house and into the foreman’s cabin had taken some getting used to but it had all worked out for the best.

  Clay and Bobbie were happily married and Mildred had a brand new baby to help them look after. Life on the Bodine Ranch seemed to get better every day, except for his little problem.

  Chance had to remind himself that Lacey Winslow might be little when it came to her size but what she lacked in height, she more than made up for in spunk and irritating stubbornness.

  Two cups of coffee later Chance felt as if he could chew the bark off a tree, he was so wound up. Ignoring the fact that it was still dark outside, he climbed into his truck and drove the short distance to the stables where he was surprised to find Clay tending to a horse ready to foal.

  “Why didn’t you call?” Chance wasn’t in the mood for niceties.

  “It’s not time, besides I was already up with Will. After he finally dozed off, I couldn’t sleep so I came to check on Lady here and see how she’s doing. What’s your excuse?”

  “Mike called a while ago. Someone tried to break into Lacey’s house tonight.”

  Chance watched Clay’s eyes narrow. A moment passed before he gave a decisive nod of his head. “So you brought her to the ranch? Good move.”

  Here we go, Chance thought to himself, preparing for the little brother lecture of a lifetime. “No Clay, she’s not here. Doug’s guarding her house and Mike will pick up the investigation first thing after sun up.”

  Clay was ready with an opinion just as Chance knew he would be. “And you’re comfortable with someone besides yourself protecting Lacey?”

  “No dammit! I’m not. But if I go barging over there again I’m going to lose what little ground I’ve gained. She needs time.”

  Clay moved away from Lady, then headed toward the open stable door grumbling, “What she needs is a damned keeper.”

  Chance was inclined to agree. Determination set him on a straight course for his truck and the too-long ride into town to Lacey’s house. Once there, he was relieved to see Doug seated in the driver’s seat of his unmarked patrol car in Lacey’s driveway.

  Chance waited for the man to back out, then pulled his truck into the vacant spot. By the time he switched off the ignition, Doug was standing beside his truck, a grin splitting his face ear to ear. “Surprised you held out so long.”

  Chance merely lifted a brow. “I’ll take over from here.”

  His original plan had been to spend the predawn hours of early morning in his truck but since his nosy little vixen was peeking through the blinds covering the front window, Chance was sure he wouldn’t have to wait until sunlight for a confrontation.

  He wasn’t at all disappointed when Doug finally left. Nor was he disappointed when, mere seconds later, the front door was flung open. Lacey stood on the threshold. The light coming from behind her haloed her body perfectly. She was obviously angry and gloriously nude beneath her sheer ankle-length nightgown. She must have forgotten her robe.

  Chance climbed out of his truck and slowly wound his way up the walk until they were no more than inches apart. “With the light behind you like that darlin’ you look like an angel.”

  Lacey sucked in a breath when he reached out with one finger and traced the areola surrounding the turgid peak of her nipple. “A naughty angel but still an angel.”

  He couldn’t believe it when she didn’t pull away from him. In fact, as he lowered his lips to hers, she melted against him. Chance fought the need to back her to the wall and slam into her. Over and over, he reminded himself that she’d had a scare and was in need of comfort, not seduction.

  The only problem was that the minute her tongue tangled with his and she struggled to get closer, grinding the softness of her abdomen against his erection, all good intentions fled, to be replaced with nothing more than the need to be buried deep inside her.

  Chapter Three

  He was larger than life and in her home, kissing her, loving her body with every caress of his large work-roughened hands and Lacey felt powerless to stop the slow seduction his touch had on her.

  Not that she wanted him to stop. God only knew, Chance not stopping was the last thing she wanted, but the possible complications that could arise out of a relationship between them were tremendous.

  He would swallow her whole and Lacey wasn’t sure she could live that way after finally finding the strength to get on with her life, alone if need be. Marrying young only to find that her beloved husband was a cheating bastard had been hard enough, but the most disturbing part of being alone was the utterly quiet nights.

  Knowing there would be no one to share with, no one to hold, to love with every breathy moan, was heart wrenching. The thought of finding love and then losing it again was too much to consider.

  Lacey held on tight to Chance, wanting nothing more than to get lost in the moment. His hold was firm, his touch sure, sending sparks of arousal rioting throughout her body, leaving her wet and ready.

  There was no thought of argument as Chance backed them through the business section of her house toward the private living quarters. Breathless with anticipation, Lacey clung to Chance, her arms wrapped around his waist. She moved when he moved, trusting him to guide her backward trek through the hallway.

  His beard rasped against her cheek as he deepened the kiss. He was insistent, his tongue tasting even the deepest, darkest recess of her mouth, tracing her teeth, rasping against her gums as if in search of more. Lacey wasn’t sure she’d ever been kissed so thoroughly and was loving every minute of it.

  A shiver raced the length of her spine, making Lacey shudder with delight as her back met with the solid surface. Reaching behind her, she grasped the knob and gave it a twist. She was ready to turn. To grab Chance’s hand in her own and drag him to the bed where she could have her wicked way with him when he stopped her.

  “If you’ve got any doubts now’s the time to voice them, darlin’.”

  “Just make love to me, Chance. That’s all I ask.” How she wanted to ask him to love her, thoroughly, unconditionally, but to do so would only bring with it regret and heartache, something Lacey needed no more of. So for now, she would love the magnificent man in her arms and worry about the repercussions of her decision at a later time.

  Chance walked her to the bed, where he once again kissed her until Lacey thought she might go up in flames. When his hands gripped her nightgown at her waist and started lifting, all thought fled.

  In a matter of seconds she was pulled into the abyss. Heated arousal flowed in waves over her body. Her thighs quivered and her pussy spasmed at the thought of what was to come. When Chance pulled the sheer length of her gown over her head, Lacey whimpered in delight. As he dropped to his knees in front of her, her whimpers changed to a rumbling purr of sexual desire.


  Lacey wasn’t at all sure she was going to make it through whatever Chance happened to have planned for her. The rasp of his tongue along her navel sent her heart into overdrive. The scent of Chance’s aftershave wafted up between them. Cool and crisp, it beckoned her to taste. Lacey leaned forward and pressed her lips to the smooth surface of Chance’s head. The flick of her tongue made him groan. Lacey cradled his head in her hands, running her thumbs across his temples as he stayed kneeling in front of her, worshiping her body with his tongue.

  Chance stood, then began removing his shirt. Lacey couldn’t bear to stand idly by watching, not when her fingers itched to help and her mouth longed to taste. A single step brought her within reach of his glorious chest.

  The curly brown hair peeking from the opened collar of his shirt beckoned her touch, but Lacey wanted so much more than to merely touch. With deft fingers, she gently shooed Chance’s hands aside and took over removing his clothes until he stood before her completely nude.

  She took an achingly long time for the sheer joy of teasing him, tantalizing his baser instincts. Keeping his need growing at an alarming rate.

  “I’ve wanted to touch you like this for so long,” Lacey murmured the words against his chest as she cupped the heavy weight of his arousal in her hand.

  Chance’s growl of arousal and frustration rumbled deep within his chest. Lacey felt the movement against her lips as she teased his flat male nipple until it was erect. His arms lay rigidly at his side.

  “Then go ahead and touch me, darlin’.”

  Lacey could tell the words were forced from his flat lips. His face was a tense mask, his eyes tightly closed. Reluctantly, she removed her hands from Chance’s body. His eyes snapped open. His chocolate brown eyes were trained on her. Intense. Heavy-lidded with arousal.

  “Why in the hell did you stop?” His words were rough, his breath ragged.