Page 4

Kelly

My cell phone rings. Woken from a sound slumber, I struggle to snatch the damn thing off my nightstand. Seconds later, the bright red digits of the sheriff’s caller ID light up in front of my nose.

No, no, no. It’s 2:03 AM. Did Mackenzie sneak out? Is she injured or worse? Thirteen-year-olds can be so unpredictable.

As I swipe to answer, I stumble out of bed. “Hello?”

“Hey O’Malley, It’s Sheriff Loughlin.” My friend’s formality causes my racing heart to thump harder than ever while I bolt down the hall.

Terrified of what she might say, I gasp for air as I reach my daughter’s bedroom door handle. “A-yup. What’s going on?”

My hoarse whisper wakes my teenager, who calls out, “Mom? Who is it?”

Thank the lord, she’s here . “It’s Aunt Ginny. Probably work. Go back to sleep.”

My brother’s been suffering from depression. Surely he didn’t…

I bring the device back to my mouth. “Is Kade hurt?”

“Relax. Everyone is fine. I picked up this asshole in the woods. He claims you’ll vouch for him.” Her reason for calling me at this ungodly hour makes me want to throttle her, along with Mr. Sexy Suit.

The breath I was holding whooshes out my lungs. “Holy shit. You scared the hell out of me, Gina.”

“Sorry. I need you to describe him.” Because she doesn’t sound the least bit apologetic, my temper flares.

“Fortyish, ridiculously dark blue eyes, buff, kinda conceited? Says he works for Fish and Wildlife?” Fully awake from the adrenaline in my veins, I feel my way into the kitchen before plopping into a chair.

I’m still not sure I’m buying what he’s selling, but that’s between him and Dante. I’m certainly not obligated to share, not at this point.

“Yeah, that’s him. I found him wandering around the forest behind Tucker’s place. Damn, he’s hot. Did you call dibs?” She’s delusional if she thinks arresting him will make him ask her out. However, stranger things have happened.

“Do us both a favor. Keep him overnight.” Perhaps I’m overacting, but in my mind, the two night owls deserve each other.

“Hold on, I’m sending you his picture to be sure.” She sends me a winky emoji.

While I wait for the image to appear, a pang of jealousy hits me dead center. At the station house, despite some differences of opinion, I thought we connected on some level.

My clit twitches when Gurion appears on my screen. Hair mussed, dark eyes furrowed, he reminds me of an angry porcupine.

It may be petty. Nonetheless, knowing my friend hasn’t a chance in hell attracting him makes me smile. “What’d you do to piss him off?”

“Do? I saved his ass and told him to go home. What kind of idiot walks around the border at night unarmed?” Her words carry some weight, but she’s missing what I sensed. Under his city-slicker exterior, the man carried himself like a warrior.

Hoping for a few more hours of sleep, I don’t get into it with her. “Listen, I’d love to chat, but I have an early start in the morning.”

“Uh-huh. Sorry again for bothering you. Nighty-nite.” When she hangs up, the day my life changed forever drifts into my mind, Tonight’s events cracked open my mental box, formerly welded tight.

Oh crap. As ghosts shoot forth, I brace for the onslaught of memories marching out of my subconscious.

Shivering in my SUV, I inhale scents of manure mixed with pine needles. Alarmed cows moo as six armed men circle the dairy farm. The buzzing drone overhead sounds out of place in the still night.

My heart races at the sudden knock on my back window. After that, things get fuzzy. An angry bass voice. A gun to my head. My face in the cold, wet grass. Flickers of scenes pop into my head, but nothing remains long enough to focus on.

What I do remember clearly is the hospital nurse telling me something no woman should hear. I swallowed a thick pill to prevent pregnancy. My boss insisted on counseling, which I did, but stopped because nothing happened.

I’m fine. I really am.

Placing all the images back into my box, I weld it shut. The shrink advised against this, but she isn’t a single working mom.

Back in bed, sleep refuses to come. Damn, the handsome scientist all to hell. I was mostly okay until yesterday. Now, it’ll take days, maybe weeks, to stuff everything back where it belongs. Without Dante to cover, I’ll be a mess.

Sighing, I fluff my pillow, grab my e-book, then settle into my romance. At some point, I must’ve given in to slumber. Otherwise, Jack Gurion broke out of jail so he could make love to me. His huge cock slides in and out while his lips press to mine.

Close to orgasmic delight, I groan…

Bling-ding.

Good God, I switch off my alarm and pull off my wet panties. In the shower, I reach between my legs, envision his hands on me, and take care of the ache. During my second cup of coffee, I have an epiphany of sorts. Perhaps a short fling will end my nonexistent sex life. Unless, of course, he’s already hooked up with my best friend.