The Patriot Girl (26 page)

The shadow ahead of him wasn’t fast enough to escape Dustin’s adrenaline rush. Leaping two feet into the air, he tackled the intruder to the ground.

The kid landed on his stomach as Dustin straddled his back. He took the kid’s arms and twisted them around his back up toward his shoulder blades.

“You move and I’ll snap your arm like a fuckin’ twig. Do you have a gun?” He pulled the arm higher when the kid didn’t respond. “Answer me, you son of a bitch.”

“No! Luke stole it.” The kid squirmed on the damp frozen grass. “Now get the fuck off me.”

Reality kicked in as his adrenaline leveled off. Dustin knew he was much stronger. He eased the pressure and took several deep breaths. He held the boy’s arms behind his back, pulled him to his feet, pinned the kid’s stomach against his van, and then patted the kid down. He’d be damned if he were going to believe this kid had no gun, or any other weapons. “What the hell are you doing here?” He pulled the kid back then slammed him against the van again. “Are you the one who shot her?”

“No, you bastard. Let me go.”

“Not until you tell me what you were doing on her back porch.” Before he could slam the boy against the vehicle once more, a hand stopped him.

MaKayla, wrapped in a long coat, held his arm. “Dustin, that’s enough.” She took the kid by the arm. “It’s
you
again.”

The boy nodded and then lowered his head.

“This is the boy from the robbery.” She looked at Dustin. “Let’s take this inside.”

“Fine.” Dustin grabbed the boy’s arm and pulled him along. He hadn’t lost his temper like this since Slaughter had made his threat to kidnap Dana. He pushed the kid into a chair at the kitchen table and stood inches away.

“How about some hot chocolate?” MaKayla turned on the stove to warm the water in the kettle. “What’s your name?”

Dustin shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair. He’d never understand the heart of a woman. As long as he was there to protect her, he’d let her be the sweet woman he’d fallen in love with.

“Carl.” The boy answered.

****

MaKayla stared into the kid’s sapphire eyes. The sadness in them she’d seen on Christmas morning had grown deeper. Carl looked lost and lonely.

If she took an angry approach, the boy would be scared to death and she wouldn’t get any answers from him. She had to stay calm and motherly. This boy needed a trusting adult and she might be his only hope—if he was willing to rat out who shot at her.

“Carl, why are you here?”

The kid lifted his head and gave her an angry, confused look. “Why are you being nice to me?”

He tried to sound tough but she heard the crack in his voice and watched him try to swallow as if a boulder was lodged in his throat. She went to the refrigerator and then handed him a bottle of water.

She pulled a chair in front of him, took his chin on her fingertips, and made him look her in the eye. Any woman would die to have his long eyelashes. His round face looked younger than his seventeen years. His blond hair was knotted and dirtier than she remembered. She was sure she’d be able to tell if he were lying.

“Do I have a reason not to be nice to you? I heard you say you weren’t the one who shot at me the other night.”

“No! I could never hurt you. I told you before that I wanted to protect you.”

“Carl, I believe you. But I do think you know who did this,”—she pointed to her head—”and that’s why you’re here.”

His head shot up and his eyes widened.

“You do know, don’t you?”

He nodded.

A knock on the back door put a fire under Carl’s butt. He jumped up, knocking the wooden chair to the floor, trying to run for the front door.

Dustin caught the kid and threw him back into the chair. “Sit down. And don’t think of running again.”

MaKayla opened the back door and Duke stepped inside. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Duke, this is Carl. He’s the third guy from the bank robbery.” MaKayla turned off the whistling kettle and then sat back down. “He knows who shot at me.”

“Is this true, son?”

The boy nodded.

She put her hands on his knee. “Carl, tell Duke who did this?”

He shook his head. When he looked up, his eyes were filled with tears. “No.” He stood in front of Duke. “I’ll take you to him.” Carl swiped the tears from his eyes and turned to MaKayla. “Remember when I told you this guy was pissed he wasn’t invited to the robbery? Well, he thinks he’s in on something huge now. I told you I was going to protect you while Alex was gone and I meant it.”

She stood. “Thank you.”

Duke grabbed the kid by the arm. “Let’s go.”

Carl stopped. “No.” He pointed to Dustin. “I’ll take
you.
Luke thinks I’m getting him more ammo from a dude who wants to set up another robbery. If I bring a cop, he’ll run.”

Dustin nodded. “Okay, let’s go.”

****

Dustin rested his head on the back of the passenger seat while MaKayla drove them through the mountains of Tennessee and over the Kentucky border. Acres of open fields turned into miles of rocks and boulders. The cool morning couldn’t be any better for a day of travel.

When she’d asked him to visit her Kentucky vacation home, she had never mentioned how many times a year she took this drive. “Do you come here often?”

She glanced his way and smiled. “Not any more.” She reached over and grabbed his hand. “I’m glad you weren’t hurt last week.”

He brought her hand to his lips. “Me too.”

Dustin wouldn’t admit to her that he had wanted to choke that bastard, Luke, once Carl had called him outside from the recreation center. The tall, thin kid had a green Mohawk and an attitude twice the size of his IQ.

Reluctantly, Dustin had gone along with Duke’s plan of pretending he needed a hit on a man who’d screwed him on a business deal. The kid was so excited about making money that he hadn’t hesitated when Dustin asked to check out the weapon he’d be using in the takedown.

The dumbass handed over his gun with no questions asked. That’s when Duke and his boys had charged in.

Now everyone who should be in jail was behind bars. Thanks to Carl, there was no longer a need for Dustin to worry about the woman he loved, and she no longer feared for her life.

From what Dustin learned of Carl’s past, the kid needed a break. Something he related to.

Jesse had offered to take Carl under his roof and help him study for a GED. Dustin had hired Carl to clean up the club after closing time to instill responsibility in the young lad. The place was now spotless and the boy seemed to appreciate having authority figures in his life.

“By the way,” MaKayla interrupted his thought, “Buck will be home next week and he and I are making plans to have a party with Tiffany Reynolds, the winner from the radio station, and her father. Would you be interested in having No Bulls host it as your first family night? There would be no alcohol allowed.”

“Not a problem. Maybe we can get
The Spurs
to play that night.”

MaKayla smiled. “That would be great. How’s Carl working out at the club?”

“Good.” Dustin chuckled. “He’s on probation so he knows if he doesn’t report to his youth service officer and keep his nose clean, he’ll be ruining a good thing. I was very impressed when he volunteered to be a witness against the other bank robbery defendants.”

“I’ve always had good instincts about people.” MaKayla smiled as he lifted her hand to his lips. “He’s not a bad kid. I’m glad you finally see him the way I do.”

“Sure do.” His lips trailed up her arm. “Are we in any rush to get to where we’re going?”

She giggled. “No. Why?”

He looked up and smiled. His ego had been all but shot by her comment last week when she said he was no fun. Now that she’d had a week to heal, he wanted her to eat her words. “I want to show you how much fun I can be.”

“What do you have in mind?”

He pointed to the narrow lane between the mountains. “Turn in there and I’ll show you.”

****

MaKayla knew what he had in mind. She found a group of bushes and parked behind them. Good thing she drove a small car. Shutting down the engine, she turned to him and smiled. “Now what?”

He laughed. “You’ve never made love in a car?”

“Nope.”

“Meet me in the backseat.”

She slid in beside him and then slammed the back door. His lips found hers. Instantly her body responded to his touch and the way his tongue greeted hers while slowly exploring her mouth.

She was unsure if her heart raced from arousal or the thought of being caught. “Dustin, can’t we get in trouble if someone finds us?”

“Trust me, we won’t be long.”

They laughed while removing only the bottom half of their clothing.

“How are we going to do this?” There wasn’t any room to lie down. Maybe she’d have to straddle his lap.

“Not a problem.”

Smiling, she watched him apply protection. “So you’ve had a lot of experience in backseats?”

He burst into laughter. “Hardly. I’d almost forgotten what it was like to be turned on until I met you. Since I couldn’t have you, I had to fantasize about being with you while watching a lot of porn. Several happened to be in the backseat of a car.”

This time she burst into laughter. “Can’t say the same.”

“For what? Watching porn or fantasizing about being with me.”

She met his gaze and caressed his face. “Only the first part. Even though I wasn’t sure about us, I couldn’t get you off my mind.”

“Good to know.” He kissed her mouth. “Lift up.” He slid onto the middle of the seat, placing a leg on either side of the hump on the floor. “Turn around.”

With her back to him, her legs inside his, she eased onto his erection. The tightness of her walls gripped him with each push. Her hips gyrated against him as she slowly rocked.

His hands rested on her hips. “Easy. This feels too good to end so soon.”

Her back and head collapsed against his chest. She lifted her feet onto the console between the front seats. He eased her bent legs open.

The feel of his hand slipping between her legs made MaKayla’s breath hitch. His finger teased the nub above their connection and her arousal intensified.

Her hips moved on their own accord as her mind drifted to the amazing pleasure he was giving her. His free hand found its way up her blouse and kneaded her breast.

Being with Dustin made her life more complete and satisfying. Making love with him had been an amazing experience each time during the past couple weeks, but this one topped them all.

The moisture he added to his finger that rubbed on the sensitive spot between her legs sent a rush of warmth and chills through every nerve. Her body tensed and her heart thundered.

“Oh, Dustin. Don’t stop.”

Her back arched as her hips pressed down as his thrust up. The tip of him banged her cervix—again and again. Their bodies had a rhythm, easily sliding his way out then back inside. His lips suckled her neck as his tongue teased her heated skin. “This is going to end soon, Dustin.”

He sucked harder. “Come with me, baby.”

The finger he had between her legs quickened, sending her body into a convulsion. Soft moans escaped her throat as she gasped for air. Quick shudders slowed her hips. As her body relaxed, so did her breathing.

He kissed her cheek. “So am I ‘fun’ now?”

“I retract my earlier statement. You’re amazing.”

They dressed and cuddled in the back seat while their bodies settled down.

As much as MaKayla wanted to stay in the back seat curled on Dustin’s lap, she needed to get to the cabin and face the reality of what this decision might bring—happiness or regret.

She put the car in drive and headed back onto the road. She’d never made love in a car before. It had been a little awkward, but exciting. The end results were the same—she was thoroughly satisfied and never wanted the moment to end.

Her stomach knotted as she passed the familiar street signs. Her home was less than ten minutes away. Bringing Dustin here would be a test of strength and love. He would get a glimpse of her past. But would he be ready to welcome Paul into their relationship?

It was almost as if there were more memories in this home than the one back in Tennessee. This was where family vacations were enjoyed, with no phones or television. This was where they really bonded.

She turned onto a dirt road then drove up the steep hill. “This is it.” She put the car in park and turned off the engine. “Who would have guessed the last morning I left here my entire world would change?”

“What do you mean?”

“That was the morning of the robbery.”

He caressed her cheek. “It’s going to be okay.”

“I know.” She leaned into his touch. “I’m just a little nervous.”

“Why?”

She stared at the front porch. “I sat on that swing for hours at a time and cried during my last stay. The memories overwhelmed me. I was trying to forget and allow myself to move on.” She forced a smile and turned to Dustin. “I’m also afraid you won’t be able to handle being here.”

“Don’t worry about me.” He pulled her forward and kissed her forehead. “How about we go inside? There’s no use in getting yourself all worked up over nothing, if you don’t have to.”

She nodded.

Dustin opened her door. She had to learn to be in control. And to do that, she had to make the first move. She held his hand and stepped out of the car.

“MaKayla, you’re shaking like a leaf and your hands are cold.” He pulled her against his side. “Come on. Once you get inside, you’ll feel better.”

Maybe he was right. Having him by her side did help her to relax. She walked up the stone walk and onto the wooden porch. She used both hands to slip the key into the lock and open the door.

Her body’s rush of excitement was the opposite of what she had expected to feel. The hardwood floors, wood-beamed ceilings, and openness of the place always made her feel welcomed. But instead of the old memories dragging her into a depressed state, new possibilities surfaced in her mind.

Images of making love to Dustin in front of the fireplace materialized. She imagined Melissa running around in her pajamas the way Alex used to at her age. Summer vacations away from home again. To her surprise, joy replaced her worries.