by Mia Carson
***
August propped his feet up on the table, tightening his grip on the controller and biting his tongue as he hunted down Sam’s character in the shooter game he’d picked up on his way over. They’d devoured one pizza and were working on their second. He thought he was safe and reached for another piece when Sam yelled in triumph as August’s character blew up.
“Damn it,” August said through a mouthful of pizza. “I thought you’d been in a hospital for months.”
Sam shrugged and grabbed another piece for himself, too. “What do you think I did while lying in bed all day?” he pointed out. “I had to do something to stop myself from going stir crazy.” He chewed his pizza, leaning back on the couch. “My sister’s happy with your brother. Is he… He’s a good guy, right?”
August patted Sam on the shoulder. “Yeah, he is. Been through some rough times lately himself, but I think they’re good for each other.”
“Good, that’s good. She needs something to smile about. She… uh, she told me how bad things got while I was sick,” he said quietly, picking at the couch cushion. “I want to help if I can, and Alec said he might let me take a job at the range.”
“We’d be happy to have you around. What did your sister say?”
Sam cringed. “I haven’t asked her yet.”
“Well, maybe that dinner we’re going to plan will be a good time to bring it up,” he said and stood, stretching his arms over his head. “Going to grab another water. Want one?”
“Probably not a bad idea,” Sam said.
August was bending down behind the fridge door when the pounding of a fist hit the front door, and his head popped up. Sam stared at it, confused, until a man’s voice called out. Then his look turned into a glare, and he cursed, jumping to his feet.
“Wait,” August whispered. “Who is it?”
“Jenson,” Sam snapped and moved to the door until August rushed to intervene. “He’s looking for Iris.”
“I know, but you’re still recovering, so let me deal with him,” August insisted. He waited for Sam to agree and step away before he took a deep breath, threw on a smile, and swung the door open. “Ah, you are not the pizza man—or did you have to get a second job, Deputy?”
Jenson’s face twitched before his lip curled up in a snarl. “What the hell are you doing here, Wolf?”
“Hanging out with Sam,” he said casually. “What are you doing here? We didn’t get called on for a noise complaint, did we?”
He hefted his belt up higher, still wearing his badge and gun though he was probably off duty. “No, course not. I was looking for Iris. She here?”
“Hmm, Iris? Sam, have you seen your sister?”
“Nope, not for a while,” he said innocently. “Why do you need her?”
“She’s not answering my calls, and I have something urgent I need to talk to her about regarding a photograph.”
Intrigued, August tapped his chin and raised his brow. “Interesting. What photograph?”
Jenson took a step forward, and August’s hand automatically twitched towards his lower back, but he’d left his Glock at the range, locked up in the case. It probably wouldn’t be a good idea to draw it on the deputy, but the look in Jenson’s eyes was not comforting in the least.
“Nothing, just tell her I stopped by,” he growled and turned. He reached the porch step before he whirled back around. “Is she with that bastard brother of yours?”
August barked a laugh, bending over double and waving at Jenson. “Sorry. It’s just that I’m actually the bastard in the family—and I don’t know if she’s with him.”
“You do know, and you’re going to tell me.”
“Or what, you’ll arrest me?”
Jenson ground his teeth and pointed a finger in August’s face. “Tell your brother if he doesn’t start listening to me, he’s going to have a world of hurt coming down on his head soon enough.”
“Or maybe he and I will just buy this town out from under you,” August countered with a sneer of his own. “You do realize how much the Wolf family is worth, right? Sit with that for a while before you make idle threats, Deputy.” He slammed the door in Jenson’s face and locked it. “Call your sister,” he said as he turned around to Sam. “Give them both a heads up.”
Sam nodded and reached for his cell on the kitchen table. “What you said about buying the town… Could you guys really do that?”
“Ha, hell no, but sure sounded good, didn’t it?” August said, hoping the light tone of his words covered up his worry.
Jenson was turning into a bigger threat than he’d assumed. He hoped Alec knew what he was doing, getting involved with Iris. August watched Sam talk on the phone to his sister for a second then glanced around the rest of the small house. No matter what Jenson threw at them, August wouldn’t let his brother stand alone. Sam was a good kid, and he and his sister had been through enough. Besides, he thought to himself as he peered out the front window to ensure Jenson had left, I haven’t been in trouble with the law for a few years. Time to stir up some mischief with the local yokels.
August laughed quietly to himself and hoped Jenson gave Alec and him a chance to knock him down a few pegs. Quite a few. Hell, getting him fired would be a good goal to aim for.
Chapter 12
Sun streamed through the window, hitting Iris in the eyes, and she groaned, rolling over to burrow deeper against Alec’s chest and under the quilt. His deep chuckle vibrated through his chest to her cheek, and she smiled at the sensation of their naked bodies entwined. Most of the night had been spent exploring each other’s bodies in ways she’d never even thought of, and when she shifted, muscles whined in protest, ones she didn’t even know she had until last night.
Alec’s arms created a pocket of warmth, and he kissed the top of her head. “Morning, sunshine.”
“Hate mornings,” she mumbled. “Need coffee.”
“A shower would be nice, too,” he said and yawned loudly until she tilted her head back to stare at him. “I didn’t think it was possible, but you wore me out.”
“I wore you out?” she remarked and sat up reluctantly until he tackled her back to the bed, hugging her close. “I'm pretty sure you did the wearing out.”
“Is that a complaint I hear?” he mocked. “Guess I should go easier on you next time.”
She tugged on the scruff turning into a beard, and her lips found his. The kiss turned heated quickly, and she felt his arousal grow against her belly. “Don’t you dare,” she murmured. “Sadly, we do have to get up. I can’t leave Joe hanging at the shop since I ran out yesterday.”
“You’re probably right,” he said and his head fell back to the pillow with a muffled thump. “Shower first, then coffee?”
“Quick shower,” she said, poking him in the chest. “We can pick this up later after work.”
“Or maybe lunch,” he said. “I’ve been enjoying my lunch breaks of late.”
She kissed him again, knowing it wouldn’t be enough to tide her over for the day, and rolled out of bed. She hurried into the bathroom and turned the water to steaming hot before jumping in. Alec stuck a foot in and yelped.
“How hot do you have that?” he grumbled.
“Hot enough,” she said, loving the heat of the water cascading over her body. “I’m sorry, I hate cold water. Want me to turn it down?”
He sucked in a breath, puffed out his cheeks, and with a sigh, shook his head. “If I get in there with you, we’ll never get out and I have to get to the range at some point today. I’ll go put on a pot of coffee.”
Sheepishly, she smiled and leaned her head out of the shower. “Sorry.”
He kissed her, resting his forehead against hers. “Don’t be. You were just born in lava, apparently, and I am a cold-hearted cowboy.”
He walked out, and Iris hurried in the shower. She hadn’t bothered to check the time before getting in. She felt bad enough for running out on Joe yesterday and wanted to put in a full day’s work today, if at
all possible. She used the soap Alec had, breathing in the manly scent of mahogany as she quickly shampooed her hair and gave her body a good scrub. As her hands roved over her soapy skin, her eyes slipped closed and she nibbled her lip, remembering all the ways Alec touched her throughout the night.
By the time she finished in the shower, she was hot and bothered again, itching to find him and tackle him to whatever flat surface she could find, but priorities came first. She would just have to tackle him later. Her shirt was a bust, but she found one of his t-shirts and rolled up the sleeves once and tucked in the front. It didn’t look as bad as it could’ve, and she had a sweater at the shop since Joe liked to keep it cold while he worked.
“Done,” she announced as she bounded down the stairs.
Alec set his coffee mug down, eyeing her choice of shirt as his lips twitched. “Not too shabby. Sorry about your blouse.”
“It’s just a shirt,” she said and brushed his hand as she passed him on the way to the coffee.
He said he’d be down in ten, and she poured herself a steaming cup of coffee before checking her e-mails on her cell. There wasn’t anything exciting, so she set her cell down and enjoyed the aroma of the hot coffee in her hand. She expected to feel worried now that she and Alec were officially dating, but no panic set in and the doubting voices in her mind were quiet.
“It might actually be a good morning,” she muttered to herself when the doorbell rang.
“Alec?” she called up the stairs. “Are you expecting someone?”
He didn’t answer so she assumed he was still in the shower. Thinking it was Jenson at worst and his brother and Sam at best, Iris set her coffee mug down and went to answer the door.
“Um… hi,” she said when she opened the door to find a bleached-blonde woman wearing five-inch, red heels, a tight, red dress to match, and a black leather jacket. She clutched a small purse in her hands, and her gaze said she was anything but expecting to find a woman here. “Can I help you?”
“I’m sorry, I must have the wrong house,” she said in a high, fluttery voice.
“Who are you looking for?” she asked, even though she knew she would dread the answer. Her stomach twisted in knots as she waited.
The woman checked her phone and glanced up at the number above the door. “Alec Wolf. This is his place, right?”
“Yes, it is. May I ask why you’re looking for him?” she asked, struggling to maintain her polite composure.
“I’m Nikki, his fiancée,” she replied tightly. “Where is he? Who the hell are you?”
Iris stared blankly at her as the words sunk in. Fiancée. This was his fiancée? “Ex, I thought,” she said before she could stop herself, and the woman’s face grew livid. She stomped her heeled foot, and before Iris could close the door, Nikki shoved past her and into the house.
“Alec Wolf! Where are you? Show yourself, you coward!” she yelled, her words echoing harshly off the walls.
“He’s in the shower,” Iris informed her. “Why don’t you sit down and have some coffee?”
Why the hell am I being nice to her?! Stop it!
Nikki glowered at her and stood at the bottom of the steps. “Alec! Your fiancée is here!”
Iris watched, unsure what to do, and tried to quash the growing anxiety in her belly that Alec would walk down those stairs, see his hot, blonde ex, and fall into her arms. She heard a door close and hurried steps as Alec reached the stop of the stairs. From where she stood at the bottom, Iris saw the anger flare to life in his usually rum-colored eyes, now darkened with bitterness.
“Nikki? How the fuck did you find me?” he snarled as he stomped down the steps in his boots. Her mouth fell open, and Iris couldn’t hold back her laugh, which she quickly turned into a cough under the woman’s intense glare.
“I called your mom, and she told me where the movers were supposed to deliver your furniture,” she told him, and her voice softened. “I want you back, baby, please? I’m so sorry about everything, but you said it yourself… We’re meant to be together.”
Iris’s bit back the nausea at the woman’s lie, and by the way Alec’s hand tensed on the stair railing, he felt the exact same way. Inwardly, she breathed a sigh relief to know he wasn’t so easily swayed. He walked down the last few steps, and Nikki grinned until he passed her and planted himself firmly beside Iris.
“If you think I’m going to take you back, you are sorely mistaken. Get out of my house and do not come back,” he warned. “I’ll call the cops and tell them you’ve been harassing me for a month. I have a record of all the calls and messages.”
Her face fell and her pouty lips disappeared. “You’ve moved on, is that it? You think this… this woman who can’t even dress herself properly is better than me? Please tell me she cleans your house.”
Iris took a step forward, but Alec held out his arm, holding her back. “Actually, she runs the local museum and a shop here in town,” he argued. “She’s also an anthropologist with a degree, more than you ever tried to do in your life, sweetie.”
The pride in his words lifted Iris’s spirits even more, and she slipped her hand into his. He squeezed it tightly and moved to stand beside her again.
Nikki fumed at them, glaring at their clasped hands. “You can’t have him.”
“I think that’s up to him,” Iris said. “And after the past week, I’d say he’s made up his mind.”
“You worthless, little bitch!” Nikki raged and charged forward, but Alec blocked her path and grabbed her arm. “We can talk about this, Alec. I know you love me!” she pleaded as he steered her towards the door.
“No. I don’t think I ever did, and your definition of love is flawed, my dear. Get out and do not come back, understand?” He gave her a gentle shove over the threshold, waved, and slammed the front door in her face. He wiped his hands together and turned around, leaning his back against it. “Well, that was not how I wanted this morning to go.”
Iris laughed quietly. “Could’ve been worse,” she assured him.
“Oh yeah? How’s that?”
Her fingers running through the damp strands of his hair, she shrugged one shoulder. “You could’ve tossed me out instead.”
Alec picked her up and tightened his hold on her as she wrapped her legs around his waist, staring down into his eyes. “Never going to happen,” he promised. “I don’t think I could ever let you go, not now.”
“Good,” she said. Her tongue flicked out to taste his lips and he grunted. “How much time do we have before work?”
She barely got the last word out before Alec carried her to the living room and followed her down to the couch with a hungry look in his eyes, filling Iris with the need to be sated by this man who she could never get enough of.
***
Nikki stormed down Alec’s driveway to her red convertible parked in the street. “That bastard thinks he can throw me out for that piece of trash? I’ll show him, I’ll make him see how much he misses me,” she snapped as she threw her purse in the passenger seat and climbed in behind the wheel.
The dash clock said it was barely nine, but there had to be a place open somewhere in this town she could get a drink. It was blue collar, after all. Everyone here was most likely a drunk, and drunks needed their bars open early. She drove back towards Main Street in this tiny little joke of a place and parked her car alongside the curb when she saw the signs for Danny’s Dive. The open sign flashed on, and she breathed a sigh of relief. Snatching up her purse, she climbed out of the car and stomped across the sidewalk to the door.
A bell jingled overhead, and everyone turned to stare at her. She didn’t dignify any of their looks with a smile or a wave. She was not in a friendly mood and didn’t want to be friends with anyone in this smelly place, anyway. All she wanted was a damn drink.
“Here for breakfast?” a man behind the bar asked as he moved towards her and handed her a small menu, aged and greasy.
Nikki picked up the corner of it and slid it aside. “No
thanks. I’d prefer not to have a heart attack today. I need a martini, extra dry with extra olives.” The man stared at her and didn’t move to make her drink. Tapping her perfectly manicured red nails on the bar top, she glowered at him. “Do you not know how to make a martini in this dive bar? Where’s your manager? I want to speak with him now. Like right now,” she said and snapped her fingers.
The man leaned on the bar, a smirk playing across his face. “I've got news for you, honey. I am the owner of this fine establishment.”
Nikki sighed, exasperated. “Of course you are. Then make me a martini.”
“I don’t serve liquor until noon,” he informed her. “Sorry, ma’am.”
Jutting her jaw out, Nikki’s glare intensified and the man smiled wider. “Listen here, I came into your business to spend money, and I expect to be allowed to do just that.”
“And you can by ordering something off the menu,” he said and nodded towards it. “Otherwise, you and your haughty attitude and your fake-ass nails can leave my place, and please, don’t come back. Ever.”
“You asshole!”
“Is there a problem, Danny?” a man’s voice grumbled from behind Nikki. She spun around on her stool to see who was talking to find a handsome, tall man wearing a deputy badge on his chest and a black cowboy hat. “Well?”
Nikki glanced back at Danny, a sly smirk on her face.
“She’s trying to order a martini,” Danny said lightly. “You know the rules, Deputy. No booze here until noon.”
“I just want one tiny drink,” Nikki said, lowering her tone and turning around with wide eyes to stare at the deputy. “I’ve had a very rough morning, and this gentleman has his rules, I understand that, but I’m a paying customer who’s visiting your little town and want to tell everyone back home how wonderful it was… including the people.”
The deputy’s lips thinned. He winked at her and leaned on the bar. “Danny, just bend the rules once. We could use some good words said about us. The holiday festivals are coming up, and this lady, here—I’m sorry, ma’am, what’s your name?”
