Then he heard a high-pitched giggle and a little whirling dervish with flying golden curls was barreling straight toward him. He caught Shelby in his arms and knew he’d be her father forever.

Tucking her under one arm, he held his hand out to Julia. Her fingers curled around his. “Sorry we’re late, but I let Shelby nap longer than usual so she could stay up for the party.”

“That’s a good excuse, isn’t it, Shelby?”

Shelby kicked her legs out behind her and squealed.

“I think it’s time I met the happy family.” Rafe sauntered up to Julia, his hands shoved into his tight blue jeans, a lazy smile on his face.

Ryder drew his finger across his throat. “Julia, this is my worthless brother, Rafe. Rafe, this is Julia Rousseau and Shelby.”

“Worthless? How can he be worthless? He’s the new deputy sheriff in town.”

“Why, thank you, ma’am.” Rafe captured Julia’s hand and kissed it. Then he tweaked one of Shelby ’s curls. “Hey, gorgeous.”

Shelby slapped his hand away, and Ryder laughed. “You have the right idea, Shelby. And don’t let the badge fool you, Julia. He’s bad to the bone.”

“Speaking of the badge, is your boss here tonight?” Julia swept her arm around the room.

Ryder shot her a glance. “Why, did you hear anything more about Brody?”

“No, but I thought the San Juan County Coroner’s Office was doing a preliminary autopsy today.”

Rafe took a break from pinching Shelby ’s painted toes, twisting his head over his shoulder. “Autopsy’s done. That’s why Ballard stayed at the station. He’ll be here later.”

Ryder hoisted Shelby in his arms. “Let’s get this over with and find my parents.”

“Nice to meet you, Rafe.” Julia waved.

“Don’t encourage him.”

Ryder circled the group where Pam and his father were holding court, commandeering the conversation as usual. He’d dealt with his dominating parents by leaving, Rafe laughed it off or charmed his way through it and Rod stayed and fought it out with them every day.

He grabbed Julia’s and Shelby’s hands and took the plunge, and then gritted his teeth while Pam fawned over Shelby. Pam told anyone who would listen about Shelby ’s riding lessons and how she was a McClintock through and through. He rolled his eyes at Julia, who tilted her head at him.

Standing on tiptoes, she whispered in his ear, “What’s wrong?”

He pulled her out of the clump of people hanging on his mother’s every word. “Give them ten minutes more and they’ll have Shelby ’s entire future mapped out for her.”

“That’s what parents do. God knows, my mom tried it with me. I don’t know what you’re complaining about. If I had a parent who smothered me with attention, maybe I never would’ve been lost all those years. Maybe someone would’ve come looking for me.” Julia’s eyes grew bright.

“I should’ve come looking for you.” He traced a finger along her soft earlobe.

“Why didn’t you?”

Ryder blinked. He didn’t want to go through this with her again, especially now when he hadn’t received orders about his next assignment. “Do you remember we had a…disagreement before I left for Somalia?”

“We had a fight.” Her jaw hardened. “And I didn’t even know you’d gone off to Somalia. You wouldn’t tell me where you were going, remember that?”

“Top secret orders.”

“Yeah, I know. That’s why I didn’t tell you about the pregnancy. I didn’t want to force you to change your plans or force you into a commitment you obviously weren’t ready to make.”

“I understand and I don’t blame you for it.”

Julia’s eyes, soft with tears a moment ago, glittered dangerously. He knew that sign.

“You don’t blame me? How thoughtful and caring of you because you’re the one who ran away.” She drew away from him and folded her arms over her chest. “Are you going to run again?”

Damn. Exactly where he didn’t want to go.

“It’s called a job. It’s not running.”

“It’s called cowardice.” Julia spun around and stalked toward the food-laden table, tears blurring her vision.

She grabbed a chicken leg and tore into it with her teeth. She recalled those discussions all too well. Ryder wanted her in Paris, and after her separation from Jeremy, he got her. They’d reveled in two months of joy and passion and love in a city made for romance.

Then one day he just started making arrangements for his departure. The love she’d nurtured in her heart meant nothing to him. How could he just walk out of her life for two years, correspondence between them screened, blacked out if necessary, and delayed for months?

Now here they were four years later in the same spot, but instead of a pregnancy, she had a four-year-old daughter. And it didn’t matter. He still planned to leave them.

Her cell phone buzzed in the pocket of her skirt and she grabbed a napkin to wipe off her greasy fingers. She plucked the phone from her pocket and flipped it open. A text message.

News on the doc meet me at the end of the drive Z.

Biting her lip, still salty from the chicken, she snapped the phone shut and dropped it back into her pocket where it clicked against her car keys. Did Zack have something on the autopsy report?

She scanned the room for Ryder and spotted him in deep conversation with Rod. As his head dipped toward his brother, the light from a nearby lamp caught the gold highlights in his hair and her fingers itched to comb through it.

She pursed her lips. He didn’t deserve to know. Besides, she’d better get used to handling stuff on her own. Pretty soon she wouldn’t have Ryder McClintock to run to for comfort anymore.

Pam was still holding Shelby, while she chatted with her friends. Julia shuffled through the crowd.

“Pam, could you please watch Shelby? I’m going out front.”

“What?” Pam cupped her ear.

“Could you please keep an eye on Shelby? I’m…”

Pam waved her hand. “You go right ahead.”

On her way to the front door, Julia squeezed past Rafe. “Excuse me.”

“Anytime, pretty lady.”

She rolled her eyes. Did that crap really work in L.A.? She slid through the door and pulled it closed behind her. The buzz from the party filtered into the cool evening, and she inhaled the fresh mountain air and her momentary solitude.

Lights illuminated the McClintocks’ drive, but it curved so she couldn’t see the gateway at the end. Did Zack park his squad car down there?

Her low heels crunched on the gravel of the drive. Birds twittered and rustled in the thick foliage that ringed the McClintock ranch. Her eyes darted toward a clump of bushes. At least she hoped birds were making those noises and not a skunk.

She glanced backward. She could still hear a hum of voices and see an aura of light, but she could no longer see the house.

Peering into the darkness at the end of the drive, she called out, “Zack?”

Had he parked his car outside the gate? A breeze lifted the edge of her skirt and a chill stole across her flesh. Julia stepped through the gateway. Most of the party guests had parked their cars on the road, but she couldn’t see a squad car. Why was it so dark out here?

Her shoe ground into something hard and she looked down. Broken glass littered the dirt. The two lights on either side of the McClintocks’ wide gate to their property lay shattered on the ground.

A cold fear gripped the back of her neck and she pivoted on her toes, turning back toward the house.

Too late.

Strong arms pinioned her from behind. She gathered her breath to scream, but a large, gloved hand clamped over her mouth, smashing her lips against her teeth.

One thought thumped in her chest along with the fear: her stalker wasn’t dead.

But she might be.