Hooked By Sundown (Canyon Junction: Hearts In Love Book 3) Read online

  Hooked by Sundown

  Canyon Junction:

  Hearts in Love Series #3

  A Double Dutch Ranch Series Spin Off Novel

  Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

  COPYRIGHT

  All Rights Reserved. This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, scanned, distributed, stored in, or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, either now known or in the future, is forbidden without the express written permission of the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes.

  DISCLAIMER: The reader should regularly consult a physician in matters relating to his or her health, or a veterinarian for animal health, particularly with respect to any symptoms or accidents that may require diagnosis or medical attention.

  First Digital Edition, September 2018 United States of America

  Hooked by Sundown © 2018 by Mary J. Dressel

  Cover Design: DusktilDawn Designs

  Formatting: LK E-Book Formatting Service

  Edited By: Ally Robertson

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidences either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Version 1:1

  Table of Contents

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Note to Readers:

  Other Books by Mary

  About the Author

  Dedication

  I dedicate this book to Patti Jean, a long-time friend and former coworker. Thanks so much for your unfailing friendship and camaraderie over the years.

  Chapter 1

  Wade Emory squinted against the sun, his roving eye scanning the beach. Waves crashing into the Pacific shore thundered through his ears, an unfamiliar sound compared to blowing sand and neighing or snorting horses. When was the last time he’d had a real vacation? Not that he could call this a vacation. This trip meant saying good-bye to his brother. Hollering from the left drew his attention from the rolling waves and surfers.

  “Get your hands off me.” A woman with a child struggled to get away from a guy holding her arms.

  The young boy beside them pounded the guy’s back. “Leave my mom alone, asshole!” No one walking past them did anything to help. Uh uh, not on my watch. Wade strode toward them in long strides. The boy continued beating his fists against the man’s back. Wade grabbed ahold of the guy’s arm. “You need to let the lady go.”

  “Get the hell out of here. Mind your own business.” He released her arm and shoved the kid to the ground and faced Wade with fists raised—

  “Asshole!” yelled the boy from the sand.

  Wade clenched the front of the man’s shirt and slugged him in the face. The guy struggled with him and threw a helluva punch of his own, clipping him on the jaw. Wade came in with an upper-cut to the man’s chin. The asshole hit the walk. Wade swiped the back of his hand across his jaw. The woman and boy had vanished, which is what he needed to do. He peered at the fool on the ground who shook his head to clear it. Wade growled out, “Picking on a woman and a kid is low-life, buddy.”

  “I’m not your buddy. Go to hell.” The dimwit got up from the ground.

  Wade changed his stance to be ready for a confrontation, but the guy left without retaliating yet shot a glare over his shoulder. Wade headed back to the bench to get his cooled coffee. He dumped it in the trash and strode to the beverage stand for a lemonade and pressed the cup against his jaw.

  On the way to the shoreline, he searched for the woman and kid, unable to find them. He sat in the sand checking out women playing in the water up to their knees with their fine glistening, tan bodies and neon bikinis. He wiped sweat from his face. A breeze cooled his skin. The day was a different hot than what he’d been used to in Arizona.

  Wearing jeans labeled him a tourist. That must’ve been why the group of ladies dropped their towels to the sand, bent over with their toned asses directed toward him. They spread out the towels and that wasn’t all. He laughed to himself. They were a bit young, but he bet they knew their way around a man’s body. He tolerated about as much giggling as he could before he stood.

  One of the ladies asked, “You’re leaving already?”

  “Yep, gotta go, ma’am.” They giggled again. He shouldn’t have called her ma’am.

  “You sound like a cowboy.”

  “Have a good day now.” Earlier, he’d texted the ranch back home to see if his horses had put up much of a fuss with the move across town. The other hands at the JL Ranch would take care of them until he returned home from California. A reply had confirmed they’d settled in.

  “Where you from?” a girl with a towel over her shoulder asked.

  “Arizona.” He turned to go.

  “Wait?”

  He faced them. They didn’t look that young from the front in wet bathing suits. He got out of there without answering any more of their eighteen or nineteen-year-old questions. Wade tossed his cup into the overflowing trash bin and crossed the way to his hotel.

  Before entering his room on the second floor, he spotted the young boy from the tussle, a door down. He tossed a hardball up into the air and caught it in a mitt. “Hey,” Wade called and nodded. All he wanted to do was acknowledge him, but the kid ran toward him.

  “You helped my mom today. Thanks, mister.”

  “You always curse like that, kid?” He laughed but shouldn’t have. “She okay? Who was that guy?” He had no business asking and stuck his key card in the door.

  “Get back here this minute.” His mother came out the door from their room toward them.

  Wade hesitated. “How you doing, ma’am?”

  “You.” She took hold of the boy’s shirt sleeve and walked away. “I told you not to talk to strangers.”

  Wade stepped away from his door. “It’s my fault. He didn’t bother me.”

  She turned and stared at him, and that’s when he noticed the rage in her eyes, the smooth skin over the fine structure of her cheekbones, and peach-colored lipstick. Her slender build. He took her all in with one glance.

  “He isn’t supposed to talk to strangers.”

  Wade moved toward her, but she took a step back. “The boy only wanted to say thanks.”

  “Leave us alone.”

  “I’m sorry, I only tried to help.”

  “I don’t need a knight in shining armor,” she spat over her shoulder as she marched away.

  “Yeah, it looks like you had it under control.” He slid his card and went inside the suite he’d live in until tomorrow. For two nights in his life, he wanted the kind of luxury he’d remember. At least he’d thought he did, but tomorrow he’d change hotels. He peered into the mirror and a bruise already darkened his jaw. The other guy would have a good one to remind him of what he’d done. Had that guy been her husba
nd? Sure, she instructed him to leave them alone, but he wouldn’t stand by and watch a woman be abused. Not even if it happened again.

  He answered a knock on the door a few moments later, but he couldn’t get any words out when he opened it to find her gorgeous self, standing there.

  “I’m sorry for being rude. I’d like to properly say thank you. Here’s some ice for your face.”

  He took the Ziploc bag. “You’re welcome. Oh, and thanks for the ice.” He held it against his jaw. “Any chance of that guy coming back?”

  She peered down the way toward her room. “I suppose.”

  “Ma’am, not to butt in, but you don’t have to take that kind of abuse from any man.”

  She cocked her hip and tapped her opposite toe. “Oh, and I suppose you’d be different?”

  Well, that insulted him. He meant to close the door on her. “You’re damn right.”

  “He’s my brother, so he’ll always be in my life.”

  Her brother? “That’s worse.” Wade positioned the hook so the door wouldn’t lock and went outside. He leaned against the railing and glanced to the lobby down below. Her arms folded in protect mode. She looked cute in white shorts and a red top. Brunettes could wear red, and she looked exceptional in the color. His gaze traveled down shapely legs to her white canvas shoes with a grape juice-like stain on the toe.

  “Look, he got out of jail today. I came here to pick him up and was surprised by his behavior. Kind of surprised. He’ll be sorry tomorrow.”

  Wade peered into her gold-brown eyes which appeared as amber when the sun streaming through the window hit just right. He slid a hand into his pocket and removed the ice from his face with the other. She might’ve needed a friend. “Are you from here?”

  “No, why?” She glanced toward the open stairway five rooms down like she expected her brother to walk up any second.

  “You said you came to get him out. Where you from?” That was none of his business.

  “It doesn’t matter.” Her edged tone sounded cocky, and he liked it.

  “I asked because I wondered if you knew a good place for lunch. Guess I’ll have to get adventurous to find a spot.”

  Her gaze slowly moved over him as if she’d laid eyes on him for the first time. “Local hangouts are best. In the past, I’ve found some great surprises by going off the beaten path.”

  “Alrighty, but I wasn’t in the mood to explore today. I can’t imagine your husband letting you take that kind of treatment from your brother.” How obvious of him. Shut up while you’re ahead.

  She chuckled as if used to being hit on. “That was a good one. There is no husband.” She marched away, and he didn’t miss a step. She had a cute little rhythmical sway. But she stopped and glanced over her shoulder as he stared. Her hair swished over her back when she jerked her head. “Good luck finding what you’re looking for.”

  Maybe he just did. “Care to join me?” Jackass. No wonder it hardly ever worked out with women.

  “I have a son as you know.”

  “He’s invited.”

  Again, her arms folded beneath her breasts—not too large, nor too small, but more like perfectly shaped breasts—kind of squeezed together.

  “What are you, a pervert?”

  “What? Jeez, no. I asked because you mentioned him. I didn’t think you’d leave him alone.”

  “No thank you. We picked up lunch on the way back.”

  He waited until she went into her room before he did. He’d never been called a pervert before. Frankly, he hadn’t liked it a bit, either. She’d never said where she was from. Inside, Wade opened the balcony door. The breeze blew the blinds nearly straight out. He inhaled the fragrance of the sea. Over the sound of waves, he heard a tap on his door again, so he trod over to open it.

  “There should be a brochure of places to eat in the area in your room. I had one in mine. Here, in case you don’t have one.” She gave hers to him.

  How obvious on her part. “Thanks. Maybe you’d like to be adventurous another day? I’m here in this room until checkout tomorrow. I reserved a hotel farther from the beach to stay a while before going back home to Arizona.”

  “I live in Arizona.”

  “Ya do?” There you go, but he couldn’t have been more shocked.

  She attempted a smile. Come on, a little more, and it’ll come out. “You and your son must enjoy this beach here as much as I do. It’s a different environment.”

  “We go to the beach at home.”

  Okay. “Yeah, I don’t as much as I should. I’ll look over this brochure. Have a good evening. Sundown should be nice on the beach that time of night.”

  “Have a good night yourself.”

  Wade stepped out after her but looked back when his door clicked shut. Dammit. “Hey.” He went up to her. “My name’s Wade Emory. From Canyon Junction. Look me up sometime at home if you’re ever in the area.”

  “And your wife would allow that?” She took an exaggerated breath but gave a smug grin then lowered her eyes. “I know where Canyon Junction is.”

  The woman must’ve lived close. “There is no wife.”

  She huffed. “I’ve heard that before.”

  Wade didn’t need that bullshit. He trod to the office for another key card. She never gave her name.

  ***

  Later that evening, the kid ran back and forth along the hallway. That wouldn’t last long before they got kicked out of a hotel like this. He brushed back his hair, stuffed the key card into his back pocket, and left without talking to the kid who ran past him. Yelling came from inside her room. Now what could he do? “Hey, kid. Is your uncle here?”

  He stopped a few feet away from Wade. “I can’t talk to strangers,” but he nodded yes.

  Then the door opened. Out came her brother. There they stood face to face, again, and Wade couldn’t keep his big mouth shut. “You don’t learn too fast, do you.”

  “Stay out of family business, jerk.” He shoved past Wade, and she came to the door. Her damp eyes widened to see him standing there. She ignored him, rushed to get her son, and stepped back inside. “I’m leaving, go away.”

  “Are you all right? Did he hurt you?”

  “No. He took my money. I can’t stay here and have no money. He’s a damn liar. I should’ve learned my lesson.”

  “Hey.” Wade took her arm before the door slammed on him. She glanced at his hand on her then lifted those stricken eyes. He was at a loss for words, but he let go of her. “What can I do?”

  “Get my money back.” She slammed the door but opened it right back up. “No, I didn’t mean it.”

  Too bad. Wade hurried down the stairway, taking two steps at a time, through the lobby, and out the door. He caught the guy getting into a shuttle bus and yanked him off before he got to the second step. “You’re not going anywhere.” The smell of alcohol reeked from him. Wade held his arm and dragged him back up the stairs without anything more than a missed swing from the drunk and a few raised eyebrows from patrons. Wade pounded on her door. When she opened it, he shoved the guy inside. “Give the lady her money, or you won’t leave here walking.”

  She shoved Wade in the chest. “What in the hell are you doing?” She clasped her hands together and faced her brother. “Give me my money, Clay. You didn’t even care how me and Emmett got home. Do you think I’ll forget this?” She dug into his pocket for her money. “Get out of my life.”

  Her brother glared back and forth at her and Wade, uncertain what to do, it seemed. “You’ll be sorry.”

  “I was sorry when I came here to get you out of jail. Oh, if Dad were here, he’d beat you silly.”

  “I can do the job.” Wade folded his arms and smirked.

  “You? Who are you? No, never mind.” She flipped her hand toward the door. “Would you get out of my room?”

  Wade held his stubborn ground. “Not until he leaves.”

  She glared at her brother. “You heard the man.”

  Wade shoved him toward the
door and watched over the balcony railing until he staggered out of the hotel. He peered at her and shook his head, then left for a dinner he didn’t feel like eating. Walking aimlessly, he entered the first restaurant he saw outside of the hotel, ordered a carryout, and went back to his suite to sit on the balcony.

  Later this evening after sitting with his brother a while at the hospital, he’d go to the beach, if for no other reason than to say he saw the sun set over the Pacific a couple times. The reflection on the sea made this time of evening look abnormal compared to a dry Sonoran sunset.

  ***

  Sophie held her son’s hand as they walked along the shoreline. Cool waves lapped at their feet in flip-flops. “I’m sorry you had to see Uncle Clay this way.”

  “He was drunk?”

  “Oh, Emmett. You know more than you should.” She glanced to the right to find Wade watching them. Why had she been so rude to him when he’d tried to help? It wouldn’t have been long before she’d ended up on the ground if Clay had his way. She nearly gave him a knee where it counted. His temper got the best of her brother. That’s what landed him in jail. Temper and booze never mixed well. “Come on, Emmett.” They headed toward Wade. The sun lit up his face, the burning glow reflecting in his sunglasses. He removed them to reveal warm brown eyes.

  “Emmett, why don’t you build a sand castle. We’ll only be a minute.”

  “Okay. Thanks, Mom.”

  She peered at Wade. He stood, and it took a second before she reached for his hand. “Sophie Price-Daniels. This is my son, Emmett.”

  “Nice to officially meet you, ma’am. Emmett.”

  He had a strong grip and incredible smile. His faint leather fragrance mixed with the sea and sand. His cologne smelled like what her husband used to wear. She withdrew the memory.

  “Care to have a seat? Sunset’s closing in on us. Be a shame to miss it.”

  “Sure.” She took a seat beside him in the sand. “Did you find an adventurous spot for lunch or dinner?”