Free The Sheriff's Secret Wife by Christyne Butler

washed over her. She turned to find Gage standing at the open passenger door. She looked past him to a stone walkway that led to a covered porch made up of giant logs.

"Where are we?"

He took her arm and pulled her from her seat. "My place."

"What? I told you to take me—"

"I know what you told me." Gage closed the truck door, grabbed her by the elbow and led her up the walk. "But it's four in the morning, the roads are freezing over and my place is closer to the vet…just in case."

Racy pulled from his touch. "I am not staying here."

"You're dead on your feet and I'm not far behind." He turned his back to her and unlocked the massive front door. "Your choice is a warm bed or a cold truck."

"Gage, wait. What will people—"

He disappeared into the house, leaving the door ajar. Racy wrapped her coat around her, already frozen to the core. Warm air flowed from inside. She took a step, then stopped.

She and Gage? Together? They'd worked so hard for months to stay away from each other, and now, to be here at his place…

And what a place it was.

She stepped off the porch. The logs were massive. An angled, high-pitched roof melted into the night sky and rows of dark windows lined one wall. A curved driveway disappeared down the hill to what must be a lower level.

It was bigger than she'd thought he'd build. She'd dreamed about owning this spot of land herself one day, having come here often as a kid. The lake wasn't visible, but judging from his front door it should be—

"Racina Josephine, get your ass in here," Gage bellowed from inside. "You're letting out all the heat."

She jumped and hurried inside. Her heart pounded in her chest as she closed the door and found herself in a dimly lit entryway. "Gage?"

"In here."

She followed his voice and moved into a vast, open space. Ceilings that reached twenty feet rose above her head. On her left was a gleaming galley-style kitchen partitioned by a bar area. She moved into a combined great room and dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows. A double row of the same windows filled the far wall and she knew the lake was right outside the twin set of French doors. A fire, slowly coming to life in a stone hearth, provided the room's only light.

"Wow."

"Glad you like it." Gage's tone was sharp when he came through a doorway to the left of the fireplace. He'd removed his jacket, but still wore his gun in his shoulder holster, emphasizing the width of his chest. He carried a couple of pillows and a quilt in his arms.

"Did you do this in the few minutes I was outside?"

"I started the fire because I'm cold."

He walked to the long end of the leather L-shaped sectional and dropped the bedding. "I left your backpack, something for you to sleep in and fresh towels in the bathroom. Just leave your clothes on the floor. I'll wash them later."

She looked down. She'd attempted to clean up while at the vet's, but a shower sounded heavenly. "Oh, that's okay. I don't want you to go to any trouble."

He stared at her for a long moment before he turned toward the fireplace. "Fine, I'm too tired to argue with you. The bathroom is through the master bedroom. I'll bunk out here."

Sleep in Gage's bed? Not just no, but hell no.

A shiver raced through her. It wasn't cold in here, despite the size of the room and lack of furnishings. Other than the leather sectional sofa flanked by a couple of freestanding lamps, she could see a flat-screen television and stereo system in one corner. That was it. The dining area was empty except for a large iron chandelier.

She folded her arms across her chest. "Don't you have a spare bedroom I could use?"

"No." He tossed another log on the fire.

He must have at least one other bedroom. This place was huge. "How many bedrooms do you have?"

"Three."

Whoa. "And bathrooms?"

"Three." Gage jabbed at the log, sending up a shower of sparks. "And a half. But, except for the master bath, they all still need some work."

Oh, my, this wasn't a bachelor pad. This