Lockdown (11 page)

“God, I hate you. You’re so goddamn arrogant.”

She was right, but that didn’t change the facts. The men in this town had always kept a safe distance from Jess because he made it clear what would happen if anyone crossed that line. Now that she’d shared his bed, he was even more jealous and possessive. No one, outside of him, would see her in that outfit. “Is that why you wanted me to make love to you the other night because you hate me?”

“We didn’t make love. We had sex. There’s a big difference. It was a meaningless one-night stand. Get over it. I know I have.”

Jake knew she was lying. She was just trying to hurt him, and he knew he deserved it after the way he’d treated her. “I’m sorry,” he whispered as he framed her face with his hands. “I acted like an asshole after we made love. I should have been man enough to talk to you, to tell you how I felt.”

She shrugged as she lowered her head. “I know you too well, Jake. You didn’t have to tell me what you were thinking. I could read it all over your face. You were sorry you slept with me.”

He drew her into his arms. “Baby, that’s not true. You don’t know how honored I am that I got to be the first man you made love to.”

She looked up, her eyes cold and emotionless. “You may have the distinction of being my first, but you definitely won’t be my last.”

He felt the sting of her words like a knife between his shoulder blades. “Is that right?” He held her at arm’s length. “Is that how it’s going to be?”

“Yes. Get it through your head. I don’t want you anymore. I needed to fuck you once to get it out of my system.” She smirked. “Mission accomplished. I hate to tell you this, but I let my imagination run wild. There was no way you could have lived up to my X-rated fantasies.”

Okay, now she was pissing him off. “Are you telling me that you were disappointed with my performance?”

She shrugged. “It’s not your fault. You’re only one man.” She licked her lips. “Maybe I need… more.”

He tightened his grip on her shoulders. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

She smiled, looking supremely pleased with herself. “What do you think I mean?”

He shook her slightly, wishing he could shake some sense into her. “You’re not telling me you’d even consider…” He couldn’t even bring himself to say it, much less think about it.

“Sleeping with two men? Who knows? I told you, I’m ready to start making some changes in my life.”

“Yeah, well if these changes involve sleeping around, you’d better come up with a new plan, ‘cause I can promise you that ain’t gonna happen.” If only he had the power to stop her. What the hell was happening to his sweet angel? Was he to blame for this erratic change in her behavior? Of course he was; he’d clearly pushed her past her limit after all these years.

“I didn’t ask for your opinion, and I sure as hell don’t need your approval. Like I said before, I want the people in this town to start taking me seriously. I want them to know that I’m not just the chief’s sister or the mayor’s daughter.” She glared at him. “Or your personal property.”

He hadn’t meant to make her feel that way, but his protective instincts where she was concerned probably ensured that most people, men especially, treated her that way. He couldn’t remember how many men he’d warned to stay away from her over the years. Dozens. “Jess, I know you’re angry with me right now, but
—
”

She held her hand up to silence him. “This has nothing to do with you. This is about me. For the first time in my life, I’m doing what I want to do, for me, and I don’t care what anybody thinks.”

“Jess, honey, please…” He was starting to panic. How far was she willing to take this game?

“If you and my family can’t learn to back off and give me some space, I’m leaving.”

His gut clenched because something told him she wasn’t bluffing. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about leaving Brant, moving away.” She sighed. “I could start over some where no one knows me or has any preconceived ideas about who I am.”

He was dying inside. The thought of never seeing Jess again… “You can’t do that. I won’t let you.” Even as he said it, he knew he was powerless. She was a grown woman, and in spite of what he or her family thought, she could pack up her car and be gone by sunset.

She pushed against his chest and stepped out of his arms. “You continue to push me, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.” She pointed a finger at him. “Consider this fair warning, McCoy. You do one more thing to interfere in my life, and I’ll be gone so fast you’ll be choking on my dust.”

Chapter Nine

“Can you believe she’s actually gonna go through with this?” Tucker muttered before bringing the beer bottle to his lips. “I could wring her neck.”

Jake shared his friend’s opinion about Jessica’s stage debut, but after the warning she issued, he knew he couldn’t stop her.

Jake pointed to a gorgeous redhead on the other side of the bar, talking to Dixie. “That’s her dance instructor, Rachel. She must have come to give her a little moral support. Maybe that means she’s havin’ second thoughts?” He would make a deal with the devil if only Jessica would reconsider this hare-brained cry for attention. She already had his attention; little did she know she’d had it for a long, long time now.

“That’s her?” Tucker asked, narrowing his eyes at the little lady in question.

“Uh yeah, but…”

Before Jake could stop him, Tucker stalked across the bar and grabbed the woman’s arm to get her attention.

Jake saw the haunted look in her bright green eyes before she looked up at Tucker. She was terrified, and he knew from experience a painful story had to be behind her fear.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing corrupting my baby sister?” Tucker shouted.

Dixie shoved Tucker’s shoulder. “Back the hell off, Chief. Jessie took those dance lessons because she wanted to. Rachel didn’t have to twist her arm. Besides, lots of the girls have been taking lessons, trying to get ready for the big event.”

Rachel squared her shoulders and cleared her throat, obviously trying to appear braver than she felt. “You’re Jessica’s brother, the chief of police?”

“That’s right, and I’m still waiting for an answer. What gives you the right to come into our town and prey on young, innocent girls just to turn a fast buck?”

Tucker was a hothead, but this was going overboard, even for him, Jake thought. He didn’t know Rachel well, but he got the impression she was a good person who was just trying to make an honest living.

Jake interceded, grabbing Tucker’s shoulder. “Hey, leave her alone, man. Like Dixie said, this isn’t Rachel’s fault. This was Jessica’s decision.”

Tucker turned on him. “I thought you were on my side? I thought you hated this as much as I do?”

No one else in Brant County had the nerve to stand up to their chief when he was this riled up, but Jake wasn’t one to back down. “I do, but I don’t think we have the right to blame Rachel for any of this.”

Tucker thrust a finger in Rachel’s direction and Jake noticed the color drain from her face as she took a step back. “If she hadn’t come here, offering those damned lessons, my sister wouldn’t even think about getting up there, half-naked, to put on a show for these drunks and dirtbags.”

“For Christ’s sake, would you get a hold of yourself?” Jake muttered as he grabbed Tucker by the arm and led him back to their side of the bar. He sighed. “Look, I’m not any happier about this than you are, but we have to give your sister a little space. If we don’t…” Jake didn’t even want to think about her threat. He couldn’t lose her, not now.

“What the hell’s goin’ on with you, man? There’s something you’re not telling me. What is it?”

Jake respected Jess too much to tell her brother they’d slept together. Jake was sparing his friend the details as much for his benefit as for Jessica’s. There were certain things a man didn’t ever want to hear about his little sister. As an over-protective big brother himself, Jake had learned that lesson the hard way.

“Jess mentioned she was thinking about leaving Brant. I don’t want that to happen, and I don’t think you do either. Am I right?”

Tucker reclaimed the barstool he’d vacated in a fit of anger. “What’re you talking about? Where’s she planning on going?”

“I don’t know.” Jake set his elbows on the bar and hung his head. “She said we’re all smothering her. She can’t take it anymore.”

Tucker scowled. “There’s a big difference between trying to protect someone you love and smothering her. What the hell is wrong with that girl, Jake?” He sighed. “Why can’t she just settle down with a nice guy like Phil and quit giving me grief?”

Jake slapped his friend on the back a little harder than he intended. “You’re missing my point. She doesn’t want you or any of us interfering in her life from now on. That means, you quit trying to set her up with guys
you
think would be right for her.” If his buddy didn’t stop playing matchmaker, they were going to have big problems.

Both men watched Dixie take the stage to announce the main event.

Sitting back, watching Jessica flaunt her stuff, with both hands tied behind his back, was going to be torture for Jake, and he had no doubt Jessica knew it.

“Hey, boys,” Ava said, slapping Tucker on the back. “I didn’t expect to see you guys here.” She winked at Jake. “Are you here to support her or try and stop her?”

Tucker rolled his eyes. “I sure as hell can’t condone this bullshit. Tell me something, Ava. What the hell has gotten into my baby sister lately? Why is she so goddamn rebellious all of a sudden?”

Ava looked at Jake before responding. “I think she’s just tired of everyone treating her like a kid who needs to be protected from the big, bad world. She’s a big girl. She knows what she wants, and she’s finally ready to take ownership of her life. I, for one, am proud of her. I think you should be too.”

“Tell me something. Has she ever mentioned Phil to you? Do you think she’s into him, or what?”

“For Christ’s sake, would you give it a rest, Tucker?” Jake said before taking a pull of his beer.

Ava smirked. “She might be… who knows? I think she’s willing to give him a chance, see where it might lead.”

Jake had a feeling Ava was baiting him, but with Tucker sitting between them, he could say or do little in response.

“You really think she likes Phil?” Jake asked. He didn’t believe that for a second. Jess had been into him forever, and he and Phil were as different as two men could be.

Ava smiled. “I know she likes him. She told me so.”

Jake glared at her behind Tucker’s back. She was definitely playing with him, trying to get a rise out of him, maybe trying to get him to come clean with Jessica’s brother about where their relationship stood. “Nice try, Ava. It’s not going to work.”

Tucker turned around, frowning at him. “What’s not going to work?”

“Sssh.” Ava pointed at the stage. “Jess is up first. I don’t want to miss this.”

Jake would give anything to miss this, but he couldn’t tear himself away. It was almost like driving by a car crash with the same morbid curiosity as other motorists. His draw dropped when Jess sauntered on to the stage. The get-up, make-up, sky high heels… that wasn’t
his
Jessica; he didn’t even recognize that woman.

“Son of a bitch,” he muttered, transfixed. He couldn’t look away, no matter how much he wanted to. She was mesmerizing.

“Wow,” Ava whispered. “She looks amazing.”

Judging by the reaction of the men crowding the dance floor, hooting, hollering, and throwing money on the stage, most seemed to share Ava’s opinion.

Tucker turned around, bracing his elbows on the bar as he covered his face with both hands. “I can’t watch this.”

Jessica was incredible, sexy and graceful, as she teased and taunted her captivated audience.

Jake wanted to run up there, throw her over his shoulder, and drag her kicking and screaming to his truck, but after the warning she issued, he knew he couldn’t risk it. He glanced across the bar to see Rachel beaming, giving her two thumbs up, but Jessica didn’t look like she needed any encouragement.

She was a different person up on that stage, not the sweet little innocent he’d known most of her life. She was transformed into the sexy little siren that lit his bed on fire. He clenched the beer bottle as he realized he didn’t want anyone else to see that side of her, ever. He didn’t mind if she revealed that side of herself to him, behind closed doors, but not to a roomful of horny men.