Stone Temptation [Texas Stallions 3] (14 page)

He tried to leave, but she clung to him. “I hated being a whore, you know? I didn’t ask for this life or any of this shit,” she said quietly, looking up at him, her eyes glistening. “I only wanted a fresh start.”

He wrapped her in his arms and held one hand to the back of her head, stroking the soft strands of her hair. “You’ll get it. I promise.” He kissed her lips tenderly, lingering for a second longer than he should. “I’ll be back soon to get you. We can figure things out then.”

Nodding, she took his hand and followed him to the front where Delilah and Hunter waited.

Approaching the counter, James told them both, “Take care of her, guys”—and he glanced back to Gracie—“she’s pretty important to me.” Then he left.

Once he arrived on scene, he spotted Clay talking with a member of the fire department. Hastily, he moved to stand beside him waiting for him to wrap things up.

His stomach churned as he studied the diner and the incinerated cars. This town was starting to look like a war zone. Things had gone too far, and these thugs had to be stopped.

“Where’s Gracie?” Clay asked, scanning around them as if expecting to find her lurking in the shadows behind him.

“With Delilah and Hunter at the station,” James replied, hands digging into his hips, resting firmly on his belt and gun.

He gave a stiff nod. “Good. She’s better off staying there. What do you know about this gang? From what Madeline tells me, you had words with them last night at the diner.”

His brow furrowed. “Reginald ‘Bullet’ Norez has apparently come here looking for Gracie.”
James inhaled deeply, grinding his teeth. “Something to do with Adam and a debt he hasn’t paid.”

Clay’s eyes scanned over him. “You just can’t seem to escape that part of your past, can you?”

James shrugged. “I guess not.” He gave a crooked grin and said, “But frankly, I don’t care anymore.”

Clay cocked his head at an angle showing deep curiosity. “I’m sorry. Come again?”

James sighed, realizing for the first time that, had Gracie not come to Temptation, he might never have been able to move on from his past. She was the key in helping him let go. He prayed he could be that for her.

His chest filled with joy at the thought of telling her just how much she meant to him. “I realized I was spending too much time dwelling on past events and doing very little planning for the future.”

Clay eyed him. “Is Gracie a part of this newly discovered future?” 

He pressed his lips together. A warm, buttery sensation flowed over him at the thought of Gracie in his life, but not as a friend. He wanted so much more from her than friendship. Had her brother not screwed things up all those years ago, he wouldn’t have that opportunity with her now. Even so, he wondered, if he had been a part of her life sooner, maybe she wouldn’t have had to…he didn’t want to think about it. Now, he faced a new obstacle. Stone McGraw.

Honestly, James said, “Probably not.”

Clay frowned, a look of astonishment washed over him. “Why the hell not?”

Surprised by his friend’s heated interest, he told him plainly, “Your old buddy Stone.”

Clay scrunched up his face like he smelt something funny. “Why is he an issue?”

“He’s slept with her, and she obviously has feelings for him.”

“So?”

James glared at him. “What? You think because you managed to share a woman with another man that the rest of us can, too?” He laughed. “Have you met Stone? He looks like he could be a real asshole. Could you imagine shacking up with that?”

Clay grinned. “Unless you’ve got newly discovered feelings about Stone sexually, then you wouldn’t really need to worry about shacking up. But he does resemble a very large asshole.” They both chuckled. “I still wouldn’t let it stop you. Maybe you both are exactly what she needs.”

James wasn’t so sure. Stone had gotten to her first, and she had fallen for him fast. He’d seen in her eyes just how much when he’d gotten hurt trying to protect her.

What woman wouldn’t find that irresistible?

“Do I really stand a chance? Stone is a tough guy with sex appeal. Shit, he’s even got battle scars. Chicks dig those. What do I have?”

Clay’s eyes flickered with annoyance. “James, don’t make me slap you.” He dug his hands into his hips. “You sound like a girl.”

He opened his mouth to speak, but the words wouldn’t come out. Was he sounding like a girl stating the obvious? Was he really that jealous over Stone, or was he looking for an excuse so he wouldn’t get hurt? Maybe it was a little of both.

“James, you’ve always been a little reserved emotionally, but right now might be a good time to grow some balls and fight for what you want. Stop letting others dictate the direction of your life,” Clay said.

“I don’t,” he blurted.

Clay arched his dark brows and folded his arms over his chest. “Yes, you do, and if you sat back and truly analyzed your life, you’d see exactly what I’m saying.” He reached out and placed his hand on James’s shoulder. “You work so hard at everything you do, but you’ve never managed to perfect the one thing that would give you true happiness.”

“What thing is that?”

“Love. Companionship,” Clay said matter-of-factly. “You’ve never let anyone into your heart, and you’ve never given yours away.”

“How would you know?”

Clay’s forehead wrinkled as he smirked. “Seriously? I’ve known you for a long time, James. Why do you think I’m pushing you so hard to take a vacation? I want you to experience these things. I want you to see what you’ve been missing in your life.” He stepped back. “Take a good, hard look at your life, James, and let me know if you think anything’s missing.”

James scowled. He knew exactly what was missing from his life. Love and the companionship with a woman he could spend every waking moment with.
Damn it
, he hated when Clay did this to him. Hated that he got him thinking about all the things he’d missed out on over the years living alone and focusing strictly on his career, leaving no room for anything else.

Delilah had opened Clay’s eyes to a new world, and he clearly wanted him to join in on the love parade.

Clay’s cell phone rang, and he answered it and stalked toward his truck. His brooding shoulders slumped forward as he listened to the voice on the other end. From his body language, James knew whatever was being said couldn’t be good.

Slowly he walked up beside him. Clay had just closed his cell phone and tossed it onto the front seat of his truck.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

Clay rested his hands on his hips. “The nineteen-year-old kid that torched this place was just shot dead.” He hung his head. “He resisted arrest and pulled a gun. He died on scene.”

James felt sick. He never liked hearing this sort of news. In all his days as on officer, he’d never fired his weapon, never shot anyone. The thought gave him chills. Taking a human life was serious and something he didn’t want to experience.

“What do you want me to do now?”

Clay sighed. “I want you to go get Gracie and take her home. You need to keep her safe while we track down Bullet and his gang.”

“Are you sure? I—”

“Seriously? Are you about to question me?” Clay scowled. His brows drew together tightly at the bridge of his nose. “In fact, why don’t you take a few days off? Enjoy the weekend.” He slapped him on the shoulder.

James frowned. “Are you sending me home because you think I’m too close to Gracie?” He scoffed. “Because that’s ridiculous.”

Clay leaned forward, pressing his hands against the side of his truck. The intense stare made James step back. “I really don’t feel like being your mommy, so take your ass home, and I don’t want to see you again until Monday.” He raised his finger as James tried to speak, but the action quickly cut him off. “I don’t want to hear it. Now go.”

James stood with his hands on his hips, his chest rising and falling with exaggerated breaths. He watched as Clay moved to speak to the fire chief, not even glancing back to see that he was leaving. He swallowed and wanted to rebel, but then another part of him was grateful because he wanted desperately to collect Gracie and steal her away to his place where they could be alone.

* * * *

Stone spotted James in the midst of all the fire trucks, police, and spectators. He stalked up to him and thumped him on the forehead. His tactics were always so warm and fuzzy.

Squinting, James blinked, a deep, heavy scowl on his face. “What the hell was that for?” he barked, glancing around to see if anyone was close enough to hear him. “What are you doing here?”

“Oh, are you surprised to see me, Deputy Ryan?” With his index finger, Stone pointed against James’s chest. “Dude, I wasn’t about to spend one more night in that hospital just because you suggested it to the doctor.”

James frowned. “I did not,” he spit out.

“Yes. You. Did,” he countered.

James squared his shoulders. “Look, I only wondered if they were planning to keep you for one more night of observation. It wasn’t like the doctor would keep you in the hospital just because I mentioned it. He’d already planned to keep you anyway, dumbass.”

Stone arched his brow. “So you did tell him to keep me.”

“I only agreed with him after he said it,” James said, trying to clarify his actions.

Stone knew all too well what game James was playing. For a stuffy cop, he sure did have some manipulative skills. “You wanted me out of the way so you could have Gracie all to yourself for a few days. Didn’t you?”

James stared at him. His silence was the answer he needed.

“You’re hoping she lets you between her legs,” he said, growling. Standing straight up, towering just a little higher than James, he felt warmth flare up around his neck and face. His need to peacock alarmed him. The urge to whip out his dick and piss on her, showing his claim to her, was overpowering. “I don’t know how to tell you this, Deputy,” he said with a snicker, “but that ship has sailed. Gracie and I—”

James swallowed hard. “I’m well aware of what you and Gracie did,” he muttered through clenched teeth. “Do you think we could talk about this some other time? Right now I’m sort of working.”

“Sure, why not. Maybe next time we talk we can do it in front of Gracie, and she can watch as I put my foot in your ass for being a dick.”

James’s mouth opened, forming a small
O
. “What’s your problem?”

Stone’s eyes narrowed into thin slits. “Have you ever been played? Treated like you were someone’s bitch?”

A ghost from the past flashed over his face. “No,” he snapped.

He knew James was lying, but it didn’t really matter.

“Well, then aren’t I the lucky one?” he said with a throaty laugh. “You were trying to play me at the hospital. I bet you only asked me to stay with you because you wanted Gracie close by and figured she’d be more likely to stay with you if I was there.”

James breathed like a bull, hard exhales through his nose while his mouth pressed firmly closed.

“Where is Gracie now? I think it’s time I removed her from your custody, Deputy.” He looked around James, searching for her, but she wasn’t there. Where was she? “I’m sure you understand.”

For the first time since he’d seen James, he saw a fire burning within him that made him wonder if he’d pushed a little too hard. Then, as James’s fist collided with his jaw, he knew he had.

Stone staggered to his feet, rubbing his chin. He knew he shouldn’t hit an officer, but James had struck him first, so he figured all bets were off. Besides, it wasn’t like Clay would put either of them in jail.

Stone landed a left hook across James’s face, sending him slamming against the truck at his back. Then as he turned, Stone rammed his shoulder in his midsection. A gust of air shot from his throat. Stone immediately did a quick leg sweep and sent James falling flat on his back. A second later, James retaliated with a kick to Stone’s chest, followed by another one to his face.

Stone’s entire body shuddered from the sting of his prior injuries, but adrenaline fueled his body to a point he could ignore the breath-robbing pain.

“What’s wrong with you?” James asked, charging after him.

Stone was back on his feet in seconds, pouncing on James like a predatory cat. On the ground, they wrestled, punching and kneeing each other whenever the opportunity presented itself. They weren’t going for blood, just a little ass kicking.

Something hard clocked Stone on the head, stunning him momentarily. Flipping to his side, he glanced up and saw Clay hovering over him with his fists clenched looking seriously pissed off.

“What the fuck are you two doing?” Clay roared, pulling them apart and tossing them both like ragdolls in opposite directions. “If you don’t settle down, I’m throwing both your asses in jail.” He glanced from James back to Stone. “Now explain yourselves.”

Pointing at James, Stone yelled, “He’s a dick.”

“Yes, and you’re an asshole, so in my book that makes you both even,” Clay murmured angrily. “I don’t care who started it or how it happened, but work it out. If Gracie wants James, then she wants him,” he told Stone then looked at James. “If she wants Stone, then she wants Stone, but you both best deal with it and stop acting like jealous idiots.” He huffed out a breath. “Damn, I’m glad Delilah didn’t make me and Hunter act this way.”

Then it hit him what Clay had just said, and even though he heard the words, they weren’t making much sense. Stone narrowed his eyes. “Wait, what?”

James dusted off his shirt and pants and stepped up to extend his hand to Stone to help him stand. Stone took it. “Clay’s married to Delilah, but then again so is Hunter. They’ve got this unique…relationship.”