AdonisinTexas

by Calista Fox

  When she returned, Ryan told her, “You’d better put the nightgown and panties back on, because you’ve just about made me lose my mind—and all my convictions.”

  Ginger was still grinning after he tidied up in her restroom and joined her in bed, with his briefs on.

  As she squirted lotion into her palm from a dispenser on the nightstand, she asked, “How’d I do?”

  He let out a hearty laugh. She rubbed the lotion on her arms as he told her, “Honor Roll, darlin’. A-plus all the way.”

  “God bless erotic romance,” she said. “I would have hated to disappoint.”

  He settled under the covers and pulled her to him, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. His other hand skimmed over the satin covering her, his fingers grazing her side and hip.

  “Ginger, sweetheart, you are something else.” He prompted her to roll in the opposite direction so she’d cradle her body against his, with her back pressed to his chest. He embraced her tightly and said, “Now this is heaven.”

  Her curvy body felt warm and exciting against his. He kissed her on the top of her head as he whispered, “Sweet dreams, darlin’.”

  “You too,” she told him, her voice sleepy and sexy.

  He honestly couldn’t think of a better homecoming. Regardless of the glitches.

  Chapter Five

  “Ginger Monroe, why didn’t you tell us you’d been robbed?” Jess demanded as she came through the front door of the boutique, two drinks in her hands, each one covered with a lid, a straw poking out of the top.

  “We brought lunch,” Liza said as she followed Jess in, carrying her own drink and a large brown bag practically bursting at the seams with what smelled to be juicy hamburgers and salty fries from the diner across the street.

  Setting aside the sheet of stickers she was using to add sales prices to some of her inventory, she sighed and asked, “Who told you?”

  The other women set the cups and sack on the cashier’s desk as Ginger dragged two armchairs over and positioned them on the opposite side of hers, all three boasting the same richly colored wood as the other furniture and round backs with plush ecru insets and seats.

  Jess plopped down and said, “We were just at the diner. Melodie was taking our order when she told us. She also said she hadn’t seen you come out of your shop all day—she and the other girls have been keeping an eye on your door, looking out for you. We had her pack up our food and add another order to bring over here.”

  “Sorry it’s a little late to be stopping by for lunch, but we were slammed all morning with Easter orders,” Liza told her.

  “No, this is great,” Ginger said. “I’m starving. I wanted to get these items marked down and put on the sales rack outside before I took a break.” She could see her sidewalk display from the large picture window up front, despite the fact she’d opted to keep her door closed. A shame, given the balmy spring weather, but she felt too vulnerable to leave it open. At least when she heard the bell chime, she had ample warning someone was walking in. Though the sound continually rattled her nerves.

  “So tell us all about it,” Jess said as they dug into the burgers and fries.

  “There’s not much to tell, really,” Ginger said around a mouthful of food. “Couple of thugs followed me in off the street. One tackled me and the other stole my money.”

  “Ginger!” Liza set her burger aside and wiped her mouth with a paper napkin. “Why the hell didn’t you say something? Call us? You know George and Jack would have been here in a flash.”

  “I know, but I couldn’t get to the phone. As Fate would have it,” she told them with what was surely a spark in her eyes, “Ryan was across the street at the diner at the time. He rescued me.”

  A tickle of excitement at the mere mention of her knight in shining armor chased away the chill the memory of Friday night brought on.

  “That’s what happened to your elbow,” Jess said. “That asshole who attacked you—”

  “No,” she was quick to jump in as she spared a glance at the new bandage she’d put on this morning. The wound was almost healed, but she’d wanted another day of antibiotic on the cut. “Actually, that was my fault. I tripped over a table after the fact and knocked over a lamp.”

  Liza’s gaze scanned the store, a frown slanting her mouth. “Oh not that really pretty Tiffany one?”

  “Imitation Tiffany, but yes.”

  “Well, this is all very disconcerting,” Jess said after swallowing down a fry. “First you, and then Reese Middleton.”

  “Apparently,” Liza dished, “the thieves used her credit cards before she could report them stolen. She heard this morning they’d pumped gas and bought a couple hundred dollars’ worth of groceries and supplies. That Max Lawton at the grocery store…” she said as she shook her head in dismay. “He’s such a sweet kid. Didn’t bother to check the name on the credit card. I swear, he’d trust Hannibal Lecter with his life.”

  Ginger smiled. “He’s never had a reason to doubt anyone, and I really hope these are isolated incidences, because I’d hate for this town to live in fear so that people stopped trusting their neighbors.”

  “Agreed,” Jess said. “Now, are you okay? Do you need anything? Money?”

  With a laugh, Ginger told her friends, “I’m perfectly fine. In fact, I was looking at the books this morning and, damn, things have really picked up. I’ve got nine shipments to send out this afternoon from Internet orders and I’ve had quite a lot of customers lately. So thank you,” she said in an earnest tone, “but it looks as though I’m finally making a real profit. I’m planning to hire someone part-time…ahead of schedule.”

  “That’s excellent news,” Liza said. “I have the perfect candidate for you—Reese. She told me recently the B&B is doing okay, but she needs to raise extra funds for the shark of a divorce lawyer she hired out of Austin. She’s not letting Tommy lay a finger on all those antiques handed down from her family over the generations or the house she bought when they got married. Do you know she even put him through trade school?”

  Jess made a slight tsking sound. She was never one to knock another, but clearly had to take Reese’s side in the matter. “It’s such a shame. He never amounted to anything, even with so many good cards stacked in his deck. He used Reese, plain and simple. And then he ran off with the housekeeper she’d employed at the B&B.”

  “I know,” Ginger said on a heavy sigh. “Why not just rip the poor woman’s heart out? I heard when she was off volunteering at the church and the Chamber of Commerce three days a week, Tommy and Megan were getting it on in every room at that B&B! Now I ask you, who deserves that?”

  “You said it.” Liza sipped her soda, then changed the subject. “Speaking of getting it on, rumor has it you and Ryan Bain had dinner last night at Pietro’s. And I can confirm you two had a date, because I’m the one who sold the rose to him.”

  Ginger’s cheeks flushed. “We weren’t at Pietro’s long, given the incident with Reese. But we did have dinner later.” She wagged her eyebrows. “At my house.”

  “Now we’re getting to the good stuff,” Jess said. “Do tell. And don’t you dare leave a single word out, young lady. We’ve waited much too long to hear juicy details from you.”

  “Please,” she laughed as she rolled her eyes. “I’ve been waiting to share juicy details with you.”

  After another bite of burger, Liza asked, “So what happened?”

  The heat that tinged Ginger’s cheeks spread down her neck and across her chest. She reached for her iced tea and took a deep sip before she spilled the beans.

  “While my virginity is still intact, I can tell you my virtue in the bedroom is not.”

  “Oh you wicked woman,” Jess crooned as she fanned herself with a napkin.

  “I knew you had it in you,” Liza smirked.

  “Indeed. And I’m just getting warmed up.”

  Jess hooted. “Planning to make up for lost time?”

  “Believe me,” Ginger told them as a f
lame of desire flickered against her clit. “If you saw this man naked, you would be shocked and amazed I managed to keep myself from completely jumping his bones. No condom,” she added. Then she glanced at the shelves along the back wall and said, “That reminds me. I need to put together a goody bag for myself.”

  Both women’s brows shot up.

  Liza said, “When he walked into the shop last night, I practically swooned. I swear, if I hadn’t met Jack Wade, my heart would have gone pitter-patter over your stud.”

  “Jack is the only man for you, Liza,” Ginger said. “We all know that.”

  “This is true.”

  “So am I to understand,” Jess inquired in a delicate tone, “that Ryan Bain does not subscribe to the arm’s length mentality his relatives maintain?”

  Ginger snorted. “Um, not a chance. And,” she said in a conspiratorial voice, “turns out, I’m quite the hussy.”

  Liza nearly spewed soda. She sputtered and used her napkin again, then said, “Ginger, honey, you can’t be a hussy when you’ve only been with one man—and you haven’t even had sex with him.”

  “Oh but the things I plan to do with him!”

  “I’m guessing you’re off to a good start.” This from Jess.

  “Let’s just say, we did things last night that would make Lydia and her friends cross themselves and pray like mad for us. And don’t think for a second I’m confessing to Reverend Bain. Lydia would slap a scarlet letter on my chest so fast it’d make my head spin.”

  With a curious look on her face, Liza wondered, “To be a fly on the wall of their bedroom. I’m guessing I’d die of sheer boredom.”

  “I’m guessing you’re right,” Ginger concurred.

  “The mere thought of it makes me cringe,” Jess added.

  As they were polishing off lunch, the little bell over the door jingled and Ginger’s head snapped up. Her breath caught in her throat and her heart nearly leapt from her chest.

  Standing in her doorway was the second sexiest vision she’d ever seen—Ryan in his uniform. Him naked trumped all, of course.

  Her jaw dropped, causing her friends’ heads to whip in the direction of the door.

  “Oh my,” Liza said indiscreetly. “Would you look at that?”

  Jess was much more couth. “Nice to see you, Ryan.”

  “You too, Jess.” He nodded his head in greeting, then his gaze shifted to Liza. “And the Soon-to-be-Mrs.-Jack-Wade.”

  Liza actually blushed as she turned back to Ginger and mouthed he’s hot!

  Ginger had yet to catch her breath. Pushing back her chair, she rounded the desk and all but floated toward the front of the store. Only to draw up short when a terrible realization dawned on her.

  Lifting her hand to keep him from coming farther into the shop, she said, “No guns in my boutique.”

  “I’m not carrying one,” he told her.

  Her gaze slipped to his hip where he had a police baton instead of the standard-issue 9mm.

  “Sheriff Johnson and I are discussing this.”

  Relief washed over her. So too did gratitude. “Thank you for taking my concern so seriously.”

  He grinned at her and her knees went weak.

  “Sorry to interrupt your lunch,” he spoke a little louder so the others could hear him. “Just wanted to let you ladies know Deputy Parks and I will be patrolling downtown and stopping into the shops on a regular basis. We’ve posted flyers with pictures of the thieves all over town, now that we’ve ID’d them. We’re trying to warn everyone and have ya’ll keep an eye out.”

  “Might want to give one of those flyers to Max Lawton at the grocery store,” Liza said in a sarcastic tone. “Seems he swiped Reese’s credit card through the machine without even checking the name on the front.”

  “We heard. These guys have quite a long list of arrests under their belts. But they’re not registered at the motel or staying at Reese’s B&B, so the sheriff and Deputy Baker are sweeping the camping areas and fairgrounds for them. They don’t have a car registered in their names, which gives us the working assumption they stole one in another county, since no one’s reported a missing car here in Wilder or in neighboring towns.”

  Ginger shivered at the thought of the two criminals being on the loose. Ryan caught her dismay and gave her another sexy smile as he brushed the backs of his fingers over her cheek.

  “Don’t you worry, sweetheart. We’ll find them.”

  She nodded. “I have no doubt.”

  “Thanks for the update,” Jess said. “And for the additional patrol. Makes us all feel safer.”

  “Call 911 if you see anything suspicious. Madeline Harper’s on dispatch today and she’s well aware of the situation. And don’t walk alone to your cars. If you don’t have someone to join you, call over to the sheriff’s office and one of us will escort you.” To Ginger, he said, “I’ve got more rounds to make. I’ll be back by in a while.”

  She smiled up at him. “You’re really good at this deputy gig.” With another sweep of her gaze over his fantastic body, she added, “I failed to mention how mouthwatering you look in your uniform.”

  He chuckled. “Needed some on-the-spot tailoring, but they work fast in Austin.”

  “You’re going to make heads turn. You stay away from those single girls over at the diner.”

  He winked at her. “Nothing to worry about there, I promise.” He gave her a quick kiss on the forehead, then headed out.

  Ginger returned to her chair and let out a long sigh. “Did I not tell you Friday night that man is hotter than the freakin’ sun?”

  * * * * *

  Ryan made his way up Main Street, greeting people he passed along the way. Most of them he knew. They welcomed him back to town and listened to what he had to say about the robberies. Spreading this word was important. Unfortunately, there was another word on the street, which his Aunt Lydia felt compelled to point out when he stopped into her shop.

  “Well, don’t you look handsome,” Martha Hinton said after she handed over cash to Lydia for her cut and color. She gave Ryan a maternal hug. “So good to have you back.”

  “Nice to see you, Mrs. Hinton. How’s the family?”

  “Everyone’s just fine, thank you. Lex is off to college in the fall and Carrie started high school this year.”

  “They grow up so fast,” Lydia said, a hint of envy in her eyes. It vanished quickly, though.

  Mrs. Hinton left the salon, but Ryan noted his aunt had two other customers, both under the hairdryers in the far corner.

  Speaking in a low tone, no one but Ryan heard her as she said, “Martha told me you walked Ginger to her car last night, then followed her out of town. Martha’s Cadillac was behind your truck until you reached the junction heading out to the lake.”

  “The sheriff wanted me to make sure she got home safe. You heard what happened to both her and Reese, right?”

  “Indeed I did. I also heard your truck left Ginger’s early this morning.” Her shoulders bunched as she said, “Now, Ryan—”

  “Please don’t lecture me, Aunt Lydia,” he interjected. “I’m looking out for Ginger. She was in a very serious and potentially dangerous situation the other night and I don’t want her to be an easy target, because these guys might still be in town.”

  “That’s another thing. If she’d keep her nightgowns off the street, she wouldn’t invite that kind of trouble into her life.”

  He had to keep a level head with that one. “It didn’t have anything to do with her nightgowns. I witnessed the majority of the incident. They got one look at her and liked what they saw. She did everything she could to keep herself out of harm’s way, but they pursued her.”

  “Well, I’m just saying,” his aunt huffed.

  “By the way,” Ryan continued, ignoring her admonishment of Ginger. “I’m not going to make dinner. Not while I’m working this case.”

  Crossing her arms over her chest, Lydia said, “I don’t approve of where this is going, Ryan. Not with
your new job or your association with Ginger Monroe.”

  “With all due respect, what I do with Ginger is my own business. The only thing people should be talking about right now—including you—is the robberies. Everyone needs to know what’s happened in town so they can be prepared if these two criminals strike again. And hopefully protect themselves against them.”

  It was quite evident she didn’t take kindly to him shutting her down. She bristled and her lips pressed together, but she couldn’t say anything further because the timer on one of the dryers beeped.

  “I’ve got to get back to work,” she said as she turned sharply on her simple flats and stalked across the room to attend to Emelda Grant, the mayor’s wife.

  He left the salon, not particularly thrilled he was living in a fishbowl, but at the same time, he didn’t have anything to hide when it came to Ginger. There was nothing wrong with the townsfolk knowing how he felt about her or how much time he spent with her. His intention was to be exclusive with her, so he wasn’t making anyone else jealous or hurting other women’s feelings. He suspected Ginger shared his viewpoint, so there wasn’t any reason to let the talk in town affect them. Too bad it created such strife within his family.

  Continuing his sweep of the area, he caught a few exchanges over the radio between Sheriff Johnson and Deputy Dan Baker, indicating their searches hadn’t turned up any useful leads. The two thugs were obviously keeping to themselves between their bouts of criminal activity. It made Ryan nervous about where they’d strike next.

  Sheriff Johnson told him to knock off at six so he could follow Ginger home again. Reese continued to stay with Liza, and Dan volunteered to add the B&B to his patrol, in the event the thieves decided to use the keys that were in Reese’s purse. The sheriff and his seasoned deputies had scoured the town and the outskirts with no sign of the suspects. It was unfortunate neither the two-pump gas station, nor the grocery store, had video surveillance equipment on the premises. There’d been no witnesses when the suspects had filled their tank, and no one had taken note of them outside the grocery store, so the make and model of the vehicle they drove was still a mystery.