His Foxy Lady

by Kasey Belle

  Koda beamed. “It’s a girl,” he stated proudly. “No name yet.” The paramedics loaded Ella into the back of one of the two ambulances then Koda climbed in behind them.

  “Miss,” one of the deputies walked over to Nikki. “I need to ask you a few questions.” He led Nikki off to the side.

  The other deputy stood by the second ambulance. She tossed a little wave to a handcuffed Mark sitting on a gurney while he was being looked over. He glared back at her. Nikki flipped him off. Fucker.

  “This is your fault,” Mark spat.

  Nikki walked over to him. The deputy kept an eye on the situation but didn’t try to block her. She noticed a white bandage tinged with red wrapped around Mark’s forearm. She thought it interesting they hadn’t taken him to the hospital yet to get checked over. She knew the bites he sustained had to be deep. Not that she was complaining. He came here with the intention of taking Casey. He’d held a gun on a pregnant woman to try to make that happen. Nope. She didn’t feel the least bit sorry for him.

  “No, Mark this is your fault. All of it. You’re the one who beat Betsy all those years ago. You’re the one who ran like a fucking coward and left your wife for dead and a toddler home alone. If the neighbor hadn’t noticed the front door was ajar, Casey could have been alone all night. Like Betsy, she could have been seriously hurt, and also like Betsy, she could have died because of your violence.”

  “You signed away your rights before you went to jail. You couldn’t leave well enough alone. You couldn’t accept that you lost that we beat you. You’re the one who violated his parole and a restraining order by coming here. Every single one of us on this earth govern our own actions and you, you asshole, are not the exception. Neither Betsy nor myself are responsible for the choices you made. I hope you fucking rot in Hell. But, first I hope you spend the rest of your days in prison anticipating your fiery demise.”

  ****

  Jim returned from his nightly walk through of the barn and medical building and found Nikki in the hallway leaning against Casey’s door watching their little girl sleep. He didn’t know how long she’d been there, but he figured it was a while. She’d been loath to let Casey out of her sight once they picked her up from school. He wrapped his arms around Nikki’s waist and kissed her temple. “You okay, vixen?”

  Nikki nodded as she let out a long breath. “I am so glad she was at school when all that shit with Mark went down today.”

  He grinned when her body relaxed allowing his to take her weight. “Me, too. I can’t imagine what witnessing something like that would have done to her.”

  “I know right. One person with PTSD in the family is enough.” She paused, and he waited patiently knowing she had something else on her mind. “You don’t think I’m wrong do you? About keeping it from her?”

  “No. She doesn’t need to know her sperm donor―” he refused to call that man a father “―basically showed up with the intent to kidnap her. It’s over and done with. The asshole can’t hurt her. He’s locked up until they can transfer him. Then he’s going back to jail for a long time. The only purpose telling her would serve would be to give her nightmares.”

  She turned in his arms, laid her head on his chest, and wrapped her arms around him.

  He kissed the top of her head. “Koda called me when I was on the way back.”

  “Oh yeah? How is everyone?”

  “If all goes as it should, they’ll be home sometime tomorrow with Stephanie Ann.”

  “Aww.” She sighed. “I love it.”

  “Koda said they named her after Ella’s mother.” Nikki looked up at him when he snickered. “Koda told me he tried to convince Ella to call her Fannie Annie or Fannie for short.”

  Nikki slapped a hand over her mouth to stifle her laughter. “Oh. That’s priceless. I bet she strongly disagreed.”

  “Pretty sure he’s going to be bunking with Vinny for a while.” He placed a soft kiss on her lips. “He also told me something else.”

  Nicolette cocked her head to the side. “What?”

  “Guess who cut the fence.”

  Her mouth dropped open. “No way. Mark?”

  “Yep. Seems he’s quite chatty on pain meds. They can’t use anything he confesses to while he’s all doped up, but Sheriff Wells passed the information on to Koda. Mark cut the fence to try and sneak on the property. He wanted to get a glimpse of where you’d be staying. Adams must have heard the ruckus and came to inspect. Scared the shit out of Mark.”

  Nicolette laughed her eyes danced with delight. “I wish I could have seen that. So much for Adams not going near the fence, huh?”

  “I know. I’m glad they’re installing the cameras next week.” He turned and kept an arm around her waist. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s go to bed. Five a.m. comes early around here.”

  “Sucks to be you,” she teased.

  “Hey, you’re up before the sun.” He poked her in the ribs making her squeal.

  “Yes, because I’m a fox. We like to eat breakfast early. But, I, unlike you, get to go right back to bed afterward.”

  He grabbed her and tossed her over his shoulder, then smacked her ass. “Well in that case you won’t need sleep anytime soon.”

  She bit his left butt cheek making him yelp. Damn. Fox’s teeth were sharp. He rubbed away the sore spot while Nicolette snickered.

  “Don’t you need your beauty sleep?” His vixen teased. Jim didn’t need to see her face to know she wore a sassy grin.

  “Nope. You said it yourself, my bratty vixen. I’m stellarly good looking.” He nipped at her hipped. “Missing a few winks won’t change that.”

  Epilogue

  “It came! It came!” Casey ran toward to them waving a large brown envelope over her head. Vinny was hot on her heels as was her second ever-present shadow, Weasley. They acquired the newest member of their family a couple of months ago when Nikki finally gave in to Casey’s pleading and adopted one of the pups. Casey, who was a Harry Potter fanatic, named the grey and white fluff ball Weasley after her favorite character. Weasley went everywhere with her except school. During that time, he spent his days with Vinny and Ella. The older dog had taken the pup under his wing and formed a sort of pack. Jim thought it was adorable. Vinny was undeniably the alpha. He kept Weasley’s natural precocious nature in check.

  Koda and Ella, who had Stephanie Ann strapped to her chest, wore huge grins, and followed behind the little girl and the pups at a more sedate pace. Casey skidded to a stop a foot from him and Nikki. Vinny stopped abruptly as well. Weasley wasn’t nearly as skilled and tripped over his own feet making Jim snicker.

  Casey shoved the envelope she carried into her mother’s hands. “Open it, Momma,” she demanded her eyes bright with excitement as she danced on the balls of her feet.

  Jim had to admit, he was pretty fucking excited himself if what he thought was in the envelope was what he hoped. He may or may not have mimicked Casey’s little dance.

  Nikki shot him a grin and thrust the envelope in his direction. “You do the honors?”

  Holding up his hands, Jim shook his head and took a step back. “No. You do it.” He was too nervous. With his luck he’d shred the thing and ruin the whole reveal.

  His woman shot him a knowing grin and sliced open the envelop with the claw protruding from her index finger. He was finally getting used to these little glimpses of her fox in their daily lives. Nikki reached in and pulled out a packet of official-looking documents. Her expression remained blank as she flipped through the pages.

  Jesus, she was killing him. Impatience finally won out, and he barked, “Well?”

  “Patience is a virtue,” she sang without taking her eyes from documents.

  “Not right now it isn’t,” he countered. He waited a few moments then barked, “Vixen!”

  “Fine,” she huffed. Nikki looked at him and a wide grin split her face. “It’s the final adoption papers. It’s done!” She threw her hands in the air and did a little shimmy that under any other ci
rcumstances would have him dragging her off to the nearest flat surface.

  Jim forced himself to look away from the love of his life and placed his attention on their little girl. “Did you hear that Squirt? It’s official. Even the law says I’m your dad now.” At those last words, his voice broke. He’d waited for this day for months.

  Casey squealed, jumped up and down, then threw her arms around Jim. “I love you, daddy!”

  With eyes blurred by tears Jim hugged his daughter—their daughter. He glanced up and saw on Nikki’s face how much Casey’s love and excitement affected her. His little vixen’s gaze met his. He mouthed, “I love you.”

  She pressed a palm to her heart in response as tears leaked from her eyes.

  Jim looked around at their audience. He was glad they were here to share this moment with them. Koda and Ella held each other. His friend grinned like a loon. Ella cried, because she was a sucker for happy endings. Movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. Max and Hal stood just inside the open barn doors wearing sappy grins. Lady Grey who had become completely enamored with Casey stood between them.

  It was fitting the people he considered his second family were there to witness all his dreams come true. He would replay the moment over and over in his mind until the day he died. He had a wife. No, not just a wife, a mate. He had a daughter nobody could ever take away from him. One day―hopefully soon―Casey would have a sibling. Jim’s little corner of the world was pretty fucking perfect. He said a silent prayer to whoever was listening thanking them for sending him his foxy lady.

  ****

  Her heart swelled with pride as she read through the document. Nikki didn’t think a few pieces of paper would change anything. She’d been wrong. Her hands shook so badly she had to call on Fox to open the damn envelope. She made sure every place that should be was signed and dated. All I’s dotted, and T’s crossed. When she got to then end and saw the official seal validating what they already felt in their hearts, she could hardly breathe.

  She nearly broke down and sobbed like a baby when Casey threw her arms around Jim and called him Daddy. Oh, she’d called him that for a while now, but this time was different. Because nothing could separate father and daughter now except death. Nikki shuddered. She’d worry about that in sixty or seventy years. Morbid thoughts had no place here.

  Nikki took a deep breath and looked around at all the smiling faces of her newfound family. The joy surrounding her seeped through her skin and wrapped around her heart. Life was pretty fucking sweet.

  She always thought feeling whole again was impossible. But it wasn’t. Because she did. Somehow Jim had managed to work a miracle. She no longer felt like Humpty Dumpty.

  Jim’s love held her together when she felt as if she would shatter when the memories haunted her. His patience smoothed the jagged edges that before had cut her until she bled. His strength supplemented hers allowing Nikki to replace the missing pieces of her soul that she left behind with Betsy’s blood in the Afghani sand.

  She would never be cured of her PTSD, but Jim taught her she didn’t have to be strong all the time. It was okay to lean on him when she was having a bad day. Her episodes were growing fewer and farther between, thanks to the broken-down bull rider who currently had tears in his eyes and a content look on his face. James “Big J” Halsey was her rock. Her soulmate. Her one.

  The End

  Thank You

  Thank you for choosing me and my book as your author and book of choice. With so many authors and books out there, I feel truly blessed you picked me. I hope you enjoyed His Foxy Lady as much as I enjoyed writing it.

  Please consider posting a review online, it makes a huge difference, especially to independent authors.

  For more information on Kasey Belle and my upcoming books, visit my website:

  www.kaseybelle.com.

  Acknowledgements

  A big thank you to my Beta Crew, and ARC Angels for your willingness to take time out of your busy schedules to support this indie author’s dream.

  Trademarks/Copyrights mentioned in this book do not belong to this author and are property of their owners and are their own entities:

  Google

  Harry Potter/JK Rowling

  US Army

  Mini Cooper

  About The Author

  Independent Author Kasey Belle, whose sarcastic tendencies and faulty filter will most likely lead to an untimely death, is a southern belle with a sexy imagination.

  Kasey promises her readers few things: soulmates, sexy times, and a happily ever after…always. Other than that, the sky’s the limit. In Kasey’s opinion, a good romance, is raw and honest, limited only by the author’s imagination, not dictated by what society deems as normal. Love is love, and all forms are beautiful.

  When Kasey isn't writing and perfecting her craft, she is spending time with family/friends or kicking back with a bottle of Moscato. Kasey admits she's addicted to tattoos and books and won't be seeking help.

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  Other Works

  Copper Creek Pack Series

  Their Cajun Queen: Book 1

  Prideless: Book 2

  Healing Cathy: Book 3

  An Unexpected Triad: Book 4

  Mating Mal: Book 5

  A Perfect Fated Christmas: Book 6

  Box Set Volume One (Books 1-3)

  Box Set Volume Two (Books 4-6)

  The Shifters of Sanctuary

  Resisting His Irish Spitfire: Book 1

  His Foxy Lady: Book2

  Name TBD: Book 3 (August 2018)

  Soulmate for a SEAL Series

  A Swing and A Dare: Book 1

  Stand Alone

  All You Need is Love and Coffee

  For Upcoming Releases and Works In Progress visit my website www.kaseybelle.com