Janie's Tempting Submission [The Men of Treasure Cove 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) (2 page)

Alex was in line to do the same, but with her just turning sixteen, she had two years left of high school before her. She didn’t doubt for one minute that Alex would sail through high school. She was smarter than her. So when the acceptance letter from the University of Montana arrived, they both jumped for joy. Alex began making contingencies for her side of the plan. With her a year younger, Alex couldn’t just leave. She would be listed as a runaway, and that was something neither of the girls wanted. So when Alex found the information on how to emancipate herself, it seemed that everything was doable.

They knew leaving was the right thing to do. They never truly belonged here with the Wilcox’s. She never loved them, and they never loved her. It was just that for the last eleven years, this was her home. She barely remembered her other bedroom. Her only reminder was her soft purple blanket, which was stuffed in her backpack.

She knew what leaving meant. She would be on her own. Well, technically, she would also have Alex, but since she was the oldest she would be responsible.

She couldn’t wait to leave so she could begin her search for her sister, Charlie. Her little face was still firm within her mind. She needed to know what happened. Was Charlie okay? Was she happy?

Looking around the room one last time, she smiled at her friend and grabbed her bag. As she turned off the light, she heard Alex whisper, “Don’t forget your acceptance letter.”

Janie Marie Potter knew there were things she liked when it came to her job, but the main thing was silence.

She loved the silence.

Being a librarian was what she had spent four years in college for. She knew she could have picked something more glamorous, but she didn’t want fame. Hell, she didn’t want anything but to be left alone, and being a librarian gave her that option.

Being the only librarian in the small town of Treasure Cove, Montana, which barely boasted seven hundred plus people, was perfect for her. Most days she had the whole place to herself, that was until the only elementary school in town came to visit, which was only twice a month, and she didn’t mind the kids. Hell, even some of them made her laugh, which she rarely did. So yes, being a librarian was just the thing for her.

Since moving to Treasure Cove, Janie lived a solitary existence. She had her little apartment, which she adored. It wasn’t much, but it was all hers. The simple two-bedroom little house boasted high ceilings and a little eat-in kitchen nook. Her living room was small, as were her two bedrooms. She never saw the need to decorate much, preferring things simple, but it was her spare room, her sanctuary, her library that she lavished all her attention on.

She didn’t own a car, because driving made her nervous. Her foster father tried a couple of times to teach her, but after two accidents, on which the last one actually sent her to the emergency room for stitches, Janie gave up, figuring as long as her legs were in good working order, she could walk wherever she needed.

She never went out, never visited the local bar or movie theater, or hung out with friends. Her life consisted of the many places she visited while reading her books.

Books were her passion.

From early on, she could escape and become an adventurer like Robinson Crusoe or Mary Lennox as she discovered the wonders of
The Secret Garden or
sailed the high seas like Captain Ahab searching for the elusive whale, but it was when she entered her teen years that she fell in love with Austen, Brontë, and Hardy. The classics of literature drew her into a world that was once forgotten, where women were gentle and reserved, men were strong and virile, and there was always some sort of happy ending. Many nights she would dream of such men, men who could take charge, get things done, and still understand and be there for the heroine, loving the heroine always.

Living for the next chapter, she avoided the only church in town because it was too crowded, and even the only diner in town was a reach for her, but for Macie’s wonderful apple pie, she would brave it just for a slice.

Janie Potter was a recluse.

She was polite when out in town, always saying hi to anyone who dared talk to the shy librarian, but mainly people left her alone. She lived her life, and they lived theirs, and that was the way she liked it.

Putting the last book back in its correct spot, Janie quickly began her nightly routine of wiping down the old wood counter and sweeping. Afterward, she closed all the windows and locked the back door before grabbing her keys and locking the front door to the library.

It was five o’clock and a Friday to boot. Janie knew she only had a short time before everyone would soon be filtering into town for gossip and fun. Quickly making her way toward Macie’s to get her weekend fix of apple pie she juggled the five books in her arms, a large bag of paperwork, and her purse. She knew if she hurried, she could make it home before the town filled up and she was forced to be polite to the people she had been avoiding for the last year.

* * * *

Jeff Hicks sat at the end of the bar, sipping on a cup of coffee. Looking up at the clock, he watched as the second hand ticked away. Checking his watch to make sure Macie had the correct time, he waited patiently like he had done every day for the last eight months. He knew in exactly three minutes she would walk into the diner, order one slice of apple pie, smile sweetly at Macie, and shyly say “thank you” before paying and quietly walking out of the diner as if she was never there. But for Jeff Hicks, he knew, because like clockwork, he knew he would sit in this same spot every Friday and wait for her to come, and like clockwork she always did.

From the moment he saw Janie, he knew there was something about her that just drew him like bees to honey. She was quiet, reserved, and smart.

Oh lord, was that woman smart. But those were the things he had learned from the townsfolk, but what he learned, he saw from his own personal observation. She was a striking woman, about five foot five, with waist-length golden brown hair that shined brightly like wheat on a summer day. Her eyes were the softest shade of pale blue-green he had ever seen, like beautiful oceans of the Caribbean, serene and kind. Her lips were full like ripe strawberries, and her smile, that angelic smile could warm his heart for the whole week. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, but most of all, Janie was a true submissive.

So for the last eight months, he did nothing but observe her, learning from her.

And for the last eight months, like a jackass with his thumb up his butt, all he did was sit at the counter and dream. Dreamed of tying her up, dreamed of spanking her, dreamed of watching her face when he made her come, and, if he was really in the mood, he dreamed of pale alabaster skin attached to his cross as he lashed her ass with a cane.

He was really getting good at dreaming.

Looking at the clock on the wall, he listened as it clicked away.

The front door opened, the bells chimed, and she walked in.

Holding his breath, Jeff slowly lowered his head, looking under the brim of his black Stetson as she walked to the counter and ordered her one slice of apple pie.

“Janie! Hi, hang on one sec, and I’ll have your pie ready, okay?” Macie shouted from the kitchen.

“Thank you,” Janie replied with her soft, ethereal voice as Jeff’s heart skipped a beat. He loved the way she spoke, so soft, so delicate.

“Hey, Janie, I’m having some girls over this weekend for a spa thing. You want to come over? I’ll have all kinds of goodies for us. We can get facials, pedicures, manicures, the whole works?” Macie said, coming through the swinging doors with the pie in her hand.

“Thank you for the invitation, but I must decline.”

Jeff knew Janie would never accept the invitation. She never did, but he prayed one of these days he was given the chance to break down those walls Janie built up. “Okay, sweetie, but the invitation is open for anytime.” Macie smiled.

“Thank you,” she said, paying for the pie and turning quietly, leaving as if she was never there.

He watched and kicked himself because once again, he couldn’t muster the courage to just walk up to her and say a simple hello. Of course, he couldn’t blame himself. Someone as sweet as her would probably run screaming if she ever found about his sexual lifestyle.
Coward!

Grabbing his wallet, he threw five dollars on the counter and stood.

“So, Jeffery, I have a question for you,” Macie said, walking toward him.

“Yeah.”

“Just what in the hell is wrong with you?” Macie asked, stopping in front of him with her hands on her hips.

Oh shit. This isn’t good. I know that look. Damnit!

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me. And just so we are all clear, and I am sure everyone in this diner will want to know also, how much longer are you gonna do nothing and let Janie keep on walking away?”

Not much shocked Jeff, but this knocked him on his ass. Quickly sitting back down, he kicked himself. He couldn’t have been that obvious? Could he?
No, Macie is just fishing for some gossip. That’s all it has to be.

“Jeffery Aaron Hicks, I asked you a question. Your momma raised you to answer a lady. So are you gonna just sit there like a deer caught in the headlights, or are you gonna respond?”

“Macie, I just came in here for coffee,” he replied, dodging the question.

“And I’m Donald Trump!” Braxton Connelly said, walking into the diner with Bud Jenkins, Daniel Meyer, and Keith Morris, who said, “Dude, you have it so bad, it’s ridiculous.”

“He’s right, Jeff. You’ve got it bad. I’m beginning to wonder if you are losing your touch,” Keith said, sliding up to Macie. “Hey, gorgeous, so when are ya gonna put me out of my misery and go out with me?”

“When you grow up. Boy, I am damn near old enough to be your momma. Go all of you, and go sit. I’m gonna get to the bottom of this mess right now. Get!” Macie said, removing his arm from her shoulder and shooing the boys to the nearest booth.

Jeff tried to get up and duck out of the diner, but Macie shouted, “Freeze, turkey! And sit your butt back down. I ain’t done with you.”

He groaned and sat back down.

He watched as it only took her just three minutes to take the boys’ orders, and soon she was leaning across the counter and looking him straight in the eye.

Jeff actually flinched in fear. There weren’t many things in this world that scared the living shit out of him, but one look from Macie and he actually feared for his life. He knew better than to tango with this woman. Even though she was all of five foot nothing and a tornado on legs, what scared the crap out of him the most was that this little bitty bit of hell on legs was his dad’s baby sister, his aunt. Even if she was only seven years older than him, she knew him like a fucking book. Well, not everything, he prayed.

Either way, he was totally screwed.

“Jeffery, baby, this has gone on long enough. You’ve come in here every Friday, ordered your coffee, and waited. For damn near a year, you have been sitting on that damn stool like a lovesick teenager. Either you do something, or move on. It’s not healthy, and besides, your brother is waiting, too. You know how it works. You’re the oldest. You have to make the first move. He likes her, too, but unless you do something soon, some other rancher is bound to snatch her up. So either shit or get off the pot. Are we clear?”

Jeff could hear the boys behind him snickering and trying like hell to control their laughter. He turned and saw them laughing like fools at his expense. Oh, yeah, paybacks were a bitch, and they were gonna get theirs. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Good. So what are ya gonna do? ’Cause I wanna help,” Macie said, refilling his cup.

“I don’t know.”

“Well, ya better figure something out, ’cause doing nothing hasn’t gotten ya shit. Have you even talked to her yet?”

“No.”

“Been to the library?”

“No.”

“Do you have a library card?”

“No.”

“Damn, boy. This is too easy. Go get a library card!” She smiled gleefully.

“I don’t like to read, Macie. Books don’t interest me.”

“Well they interest her!”

The laughter behind him started getting louder, and Jeff turned to threaten retribution when Braxton’s walkie-talkie went off.

“Sheriff Connelly, you there?”

“Yeah, Missy, go ahead,” the sheriff responded.

“Fire at the Old Mill. Fire and Ambulance is in route.”

“On my way,” Braxton said, getting to his feet. “Damn, and I so wanted to know how this conversation was going to end. You boys take notes. I want to know how long before Jeffery
baby
cracks under pressure.”

“Fuck off,” Jeff muttered as his best friend and former Navy SEAL team member left.

* * * *

Janie walked into her two-bedroom apartment and sighed.

She was home.

Kicking off her sandals at the door, she dropped her large tote and walked toward the kitchen. One of the main reasons she bought this place was for the small kitchen. It was a chef’s dream. It had every convenience, including granite countertops, a top-of-the-line stainless-steel stove, dishwasher, and a larger two-door fridge, complete with beautiful maple cabinets. When she moved in, she bought a coffeemaker, a toaster, even pots and pans. The only problem was she couldn’t cook.