Authors: Rebecca Joyce
Tags: #Romance
Janie smiled. “Okay.”
* * * *
Braxton was sitting at his desk with his feet up, sipping on a cup of coffee, when his phone rang. Placing the cup beside a stack of files, he answered the phone. “Treasure Cove sheriff’s office. Officer Connelly, how can I help you?”
“Sheriff, this is Bert Winters from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. You got a minute?” the man asked. Saying yes, Braxton retrieved his cup and sipped the hot brew, listening to the man on the other line.
Looking out the window, he smiled when Janie walked past with Margaret Hicks. She looked happy today, and he was happy to see her out and about. Watching the residents go about their business was a blessing, considering they had an arsonist in their midst.
Just then he saw the mayor’s wife walk past, and he nodded as she smiled.
The conversation was long and dull. Braxton hated this part of the job. Who cared about the bureau’s Christmas fund?
Shit, Christmas was over four months away. Continuing to listen to the dull drivel from the phone, Braxton put the man on speaker, getting up to refill his coffee cup. God, he wished he could hang up on this idiot.
Just then, the office fax machine beeped. The old fax machine was on its last leg, and Braxton knew it was going to be a minute before it came in. So, adding another teaspoon of sugar, he stirred his coffee and savored the hot brew.
Grabbing the fax on his way back to his desk, he laid it down and grabbed the phone, taking the moron off speaker. “Look, man, I completely understand your dilemma. But unless the Federal Bureau of Investigation plans on helping fund this little sheriff’s office, we can’t contribute. Sorry, man, but thanks for calling,” he finished and hung up the phone.
God, he hated this job sometimes.
He needed a vacation.
Maybe I’ll head back over to Celestial to that little club, Braxton thought as he looked out the window. He wouldn’t mind seeing that fine piece of ass again. Man, he had never been so turned on before. Just thinking about Jordan made his dick hard. Beautiful green eyes, soft blonde hair, luscious full lips, and a hot, sexy mouth that could suck a golf ball through a garden hose. Oh yeah, a trip into Celestial was coming soon, and hopefully he was, too.
Reaching for the fax, Braxton tipped his coffee mug, spilling the contents on his pants.
“Son of a bitch!” he shouted, jumping to his feet and brushing off most of the hot brew. It still left a wet spot, but there was nothing he could do about that, for he saw the picture on the fax and his heart stopped. Reading it quickly, he looked back at the window and then back at the fax. Adrenaline rushed his system as he now knew who the arsonist was.
Grabbing his gun, he ran out of the office and headed in the direction Janie went.
* * * *
The loud sirens coming up the drive alerted Jeff and Caleb. After spending the morning out branding cattle, they kicked their ponies and raced back to the house. They arrived just as Brannon skidded the cruiser to a stop. He never got out, just shouted, “Get in! Braxton knows who the arsonist is.”
Handing the reins to a ranch hand, Jeff and Caleb jumped into the cruiser as Brannon sped off. “Who is it?” Jeff asked immediately.
“Brittany Malone,” Brannon said, sharply turning the squad car onto the main road into town.
“Jeff, where’s Janie?” Caleb asked from the backseat.
“She’s with Margaret in town. They’re with Macie at the diner,” Brannon answered, racing toward town.
“So what’s the plan?” Jeff asked, dialing Janie’s cell.
“Braxton is trying to reach the Feds. He’s hoping she won’t resist, but if I know Brittany, pigs will fly south for the winter before she goes willingly.”
Unable to reach Janie on her cell, Jeff dialed Margaret’s. Waiting, he began to worry when her phone went straight to voice mail. Neither of the women were answering their phones.
As the cruiser kicked up dust behind them, Jeff’s mind raced with the need to know that Janie was all right. He didn’t like that she was in town with that cunt. He should have known that Brittany was going to do something like this. Hell, the bitch cornered her at the fucking library for Christ’s sake. What he didn’t understand was why she was doing this. She was married to one of the most influential men in town, and he came from money to boot. So what was her game?
As the town came into view, Jeff saw that townsfolk were scattering, running away from Macie’s diner.
“Fuck!” Caleb muttered.
Slamming on the brakes, Brannon brought the car to a halt one block from the diner. Leaving his light flashing, he grabbed his gun and left the vehicle, ducking into the ally to come up behind the diner.
Just then, Jeff and Caleb saw Brittany exit the diner with Janie in tow. A little silver gun was held to her beautiful head as tears were falling down her sweet face.
Jumping out of the vehicle, Caleb ran toward Janie, screaming her name. Racing after him, Jeff yelled at him to stop, but Caleb didn’t listen.
In that instant everything in his world slowed, and there was nothing Jeff could have done to stop what happened. As if in slow motion, Jeff watched as Brittany pushed Janie to the ground and took aim at Caleb. The loud recoil of her weapon vibrated off the buildings. But it was his mother that caught his attention, as she jumped in front of Caleb, taking the bullet for her son. Caleb grabbed their mother as the force of the shot had her falling backward. Sheriff Connelly did not hesitate and opened fired on the assailant. She fell back onto Janie, who was screaming, trying to get out from under the dead woman.
Jeff stopped long enough to see that Caleb was all right and holding their mother. Tears were falling down his face as he cursed her. “You crazy bitch. Why did you do it? Why!”
“What have I said about your language, Caleb?” their mother scolded lovingly, looking at her son.
“You got her?” Jeff shouted, trying to get Caleb’s attention.
“Yeah, I’ve got Mom. Go get Janie,” Caleb responded, kissing his mother’s hand.
“Mom, I like that,” Margaret said, touching Caleb’s face tenderly.
Jeff passed Doc Jenkins as he headed to tend to Margaret, with Kelly not far behind.
Reaching Janie, he moved the body off of her and hauled her into his arms. She wrapped her arms and legs around him so tightly he sighed, knowing she was going to be okay. Rubbing her back and lovingly trying to calm her down, he soothed her fears. Eventually she quieted down, as the adrenaline of the day began to wear off. Her body began shaking.
“It’s all right, cupcake, I’ve got ya. I’m never gonna let you go,” Jeff whispered, kissing her head.
Doc Jenkins shouted, “Jeff, I’m taking Margaret to the clinic.”
Jeff turned and watched as Caleb picked up their mother and followed Doc to the clinic. Carrying Janie, he, too, headed in that direction.
It was almost dark when they made it back to the ranch. Margaret got lucky that day, as the bullet went through her shoulder. After Doc cleaned the wound and stitched it up, he insisted she wear a sling for a week. After that she was to have her butt back in his office for a checkup. So with antibiotics in hand, Margaret insisted that the three of them needed some alone time. Giving them their space, she headed to the foreman’s house for the night.
They were alone.
Finally!
No one spoke as they quietly headed to the master bedroom. Jeff and Caleb could tell Janie was worn out. The events of the day had taken their toll on their little librarian.
Helping her to shed her clothes, Caleb went and started the shower.
They watched as she stoically got under the hot spray and let the warm water fall over her. She hadn’t said anything since Jeff picked her up off the ground. Not even when Doc was stitching up their mother.
She was just quiet.
Too quiet.
Surrounding her, they embraced her, touching her, holding her. No one said anything, just letting the hot water fall softly on their skin. It was then that her first sob broke.
“Let it out, baby. We’ve got you,” Jeff assured her, holding her closer, but Janie wasn’t having any of it. She pushed away from him, turning to Caleb. Jeff watched as his brother’s eyes widened, taking a step back.
It was then Janie let him have it.
* * * *
“You stupid son of a bitch! You could have been killed! What the fuck were you thinking?” Janie shouted through her tears. She had seen some stupid shit in her life, but what Caleb did today was just flat-out the most moronic thing on the planet.
Who actually runs toward a speeding bullet?
“Janie I—”
“Shut up, Caleb! Your mother is right. You do have a death wish. I thought she was joking, but she is right, isn’t she? Do you know what it did to me when she aimed that gun at you and fired? I died inside. Do you hear me, Caleb? I died! You don’t need a wife. You need a parole officer.” She continued on her tirade.
For the first time ever, Janie was getting her mad on, and it felt fucking fantastic! Her whole life she kept everything bottled up, refusing to make waves. Now because of one vindictive person and the crazy stupidity of one man, her whole outlook on silence had been washed away down the drain. She was no longer going to hold her tongue. No more!
Turning, she pointed her finger at Jeff. “And you! Where were you? You are supposed to watch out for him, not let him go off half-cocked. And don’t you dare tell me you couldn’t stop him. You could have. There is no Janie without either of you. I can’t have you guys leaving me. You brought me back from hell, and I love you both for that, but damn it, don’t either of you ever put yourselves in that position again.” Finally finishing, Janie took a deep breath and let it all go.
“Are you done?” Jeff asked firmly. Janie looked up at him, nodding her head. “Caleb, you want to go first?”
“With pleasure.” He grinned.
Janie screeched as Caleb flung her over his shoulders and walked dripping wet from the bathroom to the bed. Flinging her in the middle, Janie bounced twice before she turned to see Caleb stalking his way up the bed after her.
“First, let me be very clear, Janie,” he said, hungrily licking his lips. “I may be a stupid son of a bitch, but I do know there is no way I can make it in this world without you. I wouldn’t last a day. So if my sensibilities fled when that bitch had a gun to your head, get over it, ‘cause I would do the same damn thing over again. Second, I don’t want to die. I want to marry you. So pick a fuckin’ date, Janie, ’cause I ain’t waitin’ any longer,” he finished as he reached her face.
Janie looked into his firm but remorseful eyes, and she saw love there.
True, unadulterated love.
Yes, this man can be as crazy as a three-dollar bill, but he was her crazy, and she loved him for it.
Grinning, she replied, “Well, I don’t know. I was kinda hopin’ for a spring wedding.”
“Fuck that! I ain’t waitin till the snow melts. How about I make it worth your while?”
“Whatcha have in mind, cowboy?”
Caleb grabbed her legs, spreading them apart, and lowered his head. The first soft lick was pure pleasure. The hot, wet roughness of his tongue as it lapped her pussy had her moaning in pleasure. She felt the bed dip. Turning her head, she was presented with Jeff’s hard cock. Opening her mouth and sticking out her tongue, she licked his purple head.
The taste of him consumed her senses.
She loved the taste of her men.
Wrapping her mouth around Jeff’s cock, she sucked him into her wet mouth as Caleb speared her cunt with his devilish tongue.
“Suck my cock, baby. Yeah, just like that,” Jeff moaned in pleasure.
The hot, musky taste of his cock was making her mouth water as she slurped and sucked him. Her pussy was on fire as Caleb continued his teasing and sucking on her pussy. She felt the familiar tingle deep within her as her arousal grew.
Grinding her hips, she let go of the day’s events and focused on the pleasure she was receiving.
She felt Jeff grab her head as he began fucking her mouth. His firm hold on her felt wonderful as he took control. Humming around his shaft, she relaxed her throat, allowing Jeff to plunge deeper.
“Oh, fuck! Oh shit. I’m coming, Janie. Fuck. Here it comes, baby.” Jeff grunted as his hips jerked. His hands tightened on her head, and he thrust hard, releasing his seed down her throat. Janie gulped and swallowed every drop.
The moment Jeff slid from her mouth, Caleb bit her clit. Janie screamed as wave after wave erupted within her. Lapping up every morsel, Caleb devoured her.
Not giving her time to recover, Caleb instantly moved up her body and pushed his hard cock into her dripping pussy.
“Fuck, baby. I love your tight cunt. Want me to fuck it hard or slow?” he asked, grinding his pole deep into her wet channel.
“Oh God, that feels good, Caleb,” she moaned as he pushed deeper.
“I don’t think she cares, brother.” Jeff snickered.
“Well, shit! I want my answer. Maybe I should stop?” Caleb laughed.
“No!” Janie shouted as he began to pull out.