Page 26 of Deception and New Direction (Ranger Shield Security #3)

RUTHIE

Jack had come home very late the night before, so I decided to let him sleep in this morning since neither of us had to work.

It was Saturday , so I took Dash out for a long stroll—since it was easier now that I didn’t have crutches—and sat on the bench by the little pond in the backyard.

I would throw the tennis ball to Dash and wait for him to bring it back to me.

It was the end of February now, but we were getting a sneak peak of spring since the afternoons were getting warmer.

It was still morning, so we weren’t that warm yet, but it felt nice outside and I was enjoying sitting out here in the sun, watching Dash chase the ball.

About an hour later, Jack came out and sat next to me on the bench, bringing two coffees with him.

I sighed, enjoying the warm coffee as I took a sip. “ Mmm . You really know how to make a woman happy.”

He chuckled. “ If that’s all it takes to make you happy, then I’m not doing my job right.”

His sexy grin told me what he was thinking. I just rolled my eyes and shook my head.

“You feel up to going with me to the home improvement store to look at some flooring options?” he asked.

When Jack had first moved in, he’d had all the original hardwood flooring refinished throughout the house, but he had yet to replace the tile in the kitchen and bathrooms.

“Yes,” I told him excitedly, perking up at the idea of an adventure with my newfound crutch freedom. “ And now that I don’t have my cast on anymore, I demand that you let me do more to help out. I’ve been watching YouTube videos on how to replace tile, and I think I can be a big help.”

He sighed but begrudgingly agreed.

Eight hours, four cans of spackle, and a billion pieces of tile later, we had made some good progress.

Given that the kitchen was now a mess, we had ordered some food to be delivered and were going to eat it while we watched a movie in the living room.

I had changed into a simple pair of sweatpants, one of my oversized tees, and no bra.

I was telling him about the geckos that Dash had collected from the backyard and put in a pile by the back door as though they were a present for us. Jack put down the remote after he cued up the movie and looked over at me.

I had leaned over to show him the photo I'd taken of Dash proudly sitting by his lizard stockpile. My phone buzzed as I was showing him the pic, and a text from Cat appeared at the top of the screen.

What about a male strip club? What about your friend from the male strip club?

Jack turned to me with a raised eyebrow. " You going to a male strip club?”

Another message popped up.

He likes you. Maybe he'll get us a discount.

Jack's smirk disappeared. “ The fuck. What does that mean?”

“Nothing,” I swatted at him trying to text Cat back. “ I know a guy who works there, and he offered me discounted tickets to a night when he's working.”

Jack slid the phone out of my hand.

“What are you doing?” I asked, starting to get pissed.

“I’m telling Cat no for you. You're not going to visit some guy who strips and wants to give you a discount to come see him.”

“What? You’re being ridiculous, Jack . This is for your sister’s bachelorette party.”

Another message popped in.

Text him and ask him if that Friday works.

Jack read it out loud then turned to me. “ You have his number already? What’s his name? I'm texting him now and telling him to lose your number.”

“What the hell, Jack ? Stop being an asshole.” I reached and took my phone back, though he didn’t fight me.

“You like this guy?”

Oh my God … He was jealous. Jack was jealous of my gay hairstylist. Though I guess he didn’t know he was gay. I could tell him, but this was way more fun.

“Yes, but it's not what you’re thinking.”

“A man who gives you his number so you’ll come visit him while he strips is not someone you want in your phone.”

He was definitely jealous. I knew it. Not wanting him to get the wrong idea any more than he already had, I gave him the full story.

“His name is Maxwell , and he’s my gay hairdresser,” I told him, looking into his eyes, sliding my hands up his arms in a soft caress. “ You have nothing to be jealous about.”

I probably didn’t need to add that last part since it clearly gave him the upper hand with knowing how I felt about him, but it slipped out.

His demeanor relaxed, and any slight insecurity he may have had faded away.

“You should have led with that,” he mumbled.

“You didn’t exactly give me the chance,” I tried to explain. “ Also , just so you know, I’m not interested in him or anyone else.”

I knew how he would read into that, and honestly, I found I was okay with it. Even if it didn’t fully work out with Jack and me, I knew I needed to put myself out there more.

I reached over his shoulder to turn the lamp off so we could watch the movie.

Just as I did that he leaned forward and put his mouth over my boob and sucked hard on my nipple.

It was a weird sensation because I still had my T -shirt on, but weird in a good way.

I didn’t even realize I’d made a sound until Jack’s mouth detached from me and he spoke.

“I love the sounds you make when my mouth is on you,” he said.

Before I could even respond, his mouth was on my other nipple. My hands, which had been reaching beyond his shoulders to get the phone, now grabbed onto his shoulders for balance as his mouth sucked hard, triggering a tingling sensation that shot straight to my core.

An instant later, his hands were at my sides, lifting my shirt up. Then his mouth was back on my nipple, and his tongue rolled and flicked and moved in a way that felt indescribably good.

He didn’t mess around this time. He lifted me and flipped me so I was on my back on the couch then slid my pants off.

He sheathed himself in record time and lined himself up at my entrance, but then paused.

I was growing impatient, so I reached around, grabbed his butt cheeks, and pulled him close, causing him to slide home.

“I want to be the only man who can make you feel like that,” Jack said, grinding into me. “ The only man who can make you come so hard you see stars.”

And he did. Twice .

Then he carried me back to the bed, where I promptly fell asleep seconds later.

* * *

The next day, I was all dolled up and meeting the girls for my birthday.

It was a busier Thursday than usual at the office, so I had just brought everything I needed to change into when I came in for work.

Cat had done the same, and we had gotten ready together upstairs at Ellie and Wade’s apartment after work before going downstairs to the bar.

Val had come over to Ellie’s and offered to do my hair and makeup. She had just gotten a job at a hair salon and loved using us girls as guinea pigs. I honestly didn’t mind because she was really good at it.

Just as Ellie had said he would, Wade and Tammy had blocked off the small event room in the back for my birthday. What I hadn’t known was that Ellie and Tammy had spent most of the day decorating the space. Balloons , streamers, and bright-pink tablecloths filled the room.

I had never had anyone go all out for my birthday before.

As a child, my mom made a cake and gave me presents, but my father usually spent the day at the race track or doing something with my brother, never even acknowledging my birthday.

One year my mom had even let me invite a few friends over from school.

She painted all our nails, we had cake and ice cream, and she even bought me a new dress for the occasion.

It was the best birthday I had ever had.

My mother died the following year, so I never had another party. My brother usually got me a card, but that was about it. There was no acknowledgment from my father whatsoever.

This might be just as good as the last party my mom had ever thrown for me.

As I stared at the room full of people, I realized they all cared.

I’d had friends before, but not like these people.

These were the type of friends who would have your back for life.

The ones who sometimes knew more about you than you knew about yourself.

When I first walked in with the girls, everyone from Ranger Shield was already there, plus Tammy and my granddad.

People came up to wish me a happy birthday and mingled around the space.

There was one long table that could seat two dozen people and a buffet set up along the side filled with finger foods.

One of the waitresses would come by to collect drink orders and Wade had already told me this was on the house—company expense, he said.

“I’m probably not gonna stay very long, so I’m gonna wish you happy birthday now and give you your present,” my granddad said.

It didn’t surprise me he was already planning his exit. Social scenes like this weren’t really his thing, which made it all the more special that he actually came in the first place.

“You didn’t need to get me anything,” I told him. “ I’m just happy you came.”

“I know that, and don’t get excited ‘cause it’s not much,” he said as he handed me a card.

I opened it to see it was a standard happy birthday card that he’d just signed From Hank . Inside was a folded-up piece of paper. When I opened it, it was to find a pre-paid invoice for another rescue dog. Granddad had prepaid for me to get another greyhound rescue.

“You don’t need to get one now,” he said from beside me as I felt my eyes well up with tears. “ Ginny over at the rescue office said you can just keep an eye on their website, and when you see one you like, it’s all yours.”

I didn’t have any words. This was the best kind of gift.

“Granddad,” I said, my voice starting to choke up.

“Don’t go cryin’ on me,” he said. “ Them girlfriends of yours’ll be pissed if I mess up your fancy makeup.”

I chuckled a little, knowing he was right, but also knowing Val would fix it in a heartbeat if she knew why it was messed up.