by Lee Rose
“My path toward love wasn’t so smooth but it only made me appreciate what Ethan and I have together so much more. No relationship is perfect, that is true. Ethan can push my buttons like no one else but I love that man so much and I know he returns that love and that’s what makes us work hard to make it successful,” Liz said, filling Karissa in on a little of her rocky history with Ethan. She explained how they had met at a Halloween dance and both felt the attraction but Ethan had rejected her, thinking she was too high maintenance for him because her parents were wealthy and she was a successful business woman. She went on to explain about Gary, Stanley’s ex-boss, stalking her and finally kidnapping her. “It was scary, that man had some serious screws loose. But Ethan fought Gary and saved me and realized I was the one for him. I had just about given up hope for us.”
“I can’t believe he judged you based on your appearance and ignored you like that. I would have knocked him on his ass for you if I had been around,” Karissa stated firmly. Liz was so sweet and no snob, anybody could see that right away. Ethan looked at his wife with so much love now, though, so it was obvious he had quickly realized his mistake.
Liz giggled, remembering their rocky courtship. “Oh I did knock him on his ass, but in class only. He teaches self-defense classes along with Ryan every Sunday. You should join us, Karissa. It is good exercise and so much fun. I can’t participate right now but I still go and watch.”
“You have to go guard your man, girl,” Lacey said to Liz looking at Stella and snickering.
Stella nodded, trying hard not to laugh out loud. “Yeah or the Drama Queen Clique will be all over him like white on rice.”
They both burst out laughing while Liz tried to look annoyed but then she joined them in their laughter and explained to Casey and Karissa about the three women they had named the Drama Queen Clique because they were man-eaters and rude and mean unless you were a male. One of them, Emma, had dated Ryan and gave Lacy a hard time. Melissa, another member of the little group had been after Ethan and still occasionally tried to rile Liz up by flirting with Ethan, even though Ethan ignored her completely.
“I’d love to join the class. I can’t wait to meet this group. I have met Emma already. She has her sights set on Gabe now but she’s not getting him. There is never a dull moment in the town of Appledale.” Karissa laughed along with them, really feeling like she fit in with the group. “I used to jog in St. Louis when I had time but with these crazy guys running around town Gabe doesn’t want me jogging alone. I could use some exercise and fun. So what’s your story, chica?” she asked Lacy.
Lacy sighed but explained to Karissa how she ran from her hometown of Detroit after witnessing a murder. She hid out in Appledale from Chico, the murderer, thanks to Ally’s help. “Ally was my guardian angel and I love that woman. I would have been lost without her.”
She told Karissa and Casey how Ryan didn’t like the idea of his mom helping a complete stranger, so he came to investigate if Lacy was just using his mom. “We fell for each other pretty quickly despite the obstacle of his crazy ex-girlfriend harassing him and Chico stalking me.” She told them how terrified she had been when Chico had tried raping her and how she had gotten away from him and the guys saved her life.
“After that horrible ordeal Ryan understands my need to be able to defend myself. I know he’d protect me in any situation but it gives me confidence in myself. Now he understands that and loves teaching the class along with Ethan. I’ve never met a bunch of people that have each other’s backs and are willing to help one another like I have since I’ve been here. I love the people of Appledale and I’m glad you came home to be a part of it again, Karissa.” Lacy smiled, pushing the bad memories away.
“Welcome home, Karissa,” the girls said in unison, toasting her with their glasses of iced tea.
Karissa looked around the table and blinked back the tears threatening to fall from her eyes, amazed to hear the stories these women had just told her. She leaned her head on her sister’s shoulder, feeling overwhelmed with emotion. She felt touched they accepted her into their group so easily. Coming home to be surrounded by such strong women had been a blessing from above. She felt like she was becoming a part of a family, a family she and Casey had never had before, and she sent up a silent prayer for second chances.
Chapter 11
Karissa felt a renewed hope for her and Gabe after her afternoon with the girls. She could be strong just like them, she decided. She would let go of the fears and doubts and concentrate on today.
Thorn’s was ready to close and she waited anxiously outside for Gabe to pick her up. Tonight she was going to be brave and tell him she loved him still. She felt more lighthearted than she had felt in such a long time. She had sensed the restlessness in him before when they were younger. But she hadn’t wanted to face it or bring it up because deep down she knew Gabe hadn’t been ready to settle down like she had.
She was so lost in thought she hadn’t heard Gabe walk up to her and tease her. “You okay, honey? You were off daydreaming somewhere. Thinking of me?”
Karissa looked up into the face of the man she had always loved and gave him a sultry smile, making him lose his breath and his chest tighten up. “Who else would I be thinking of but the man I love?” She hadn’t meant to blurt it out so suddenly, but there it was, out in the open. She could no longer contain what she felt hidden inside, it was ready to burst out of her and it just had. Now was the time for her to admit her love to him.
Gabe’s eyes opened wider as if he was in shock then he smiled as if someone told him he had just won the lottery. He let out a happy yell and swung her around in a circle making her laugh with joy that he wasn’t mad. He set her down on her feet and kissed her so passionately she wasn’t sure she could stand when it was over. She just clung to his large frame, confident he wouldn’t let her fall.
“I wanted a romantic dinner and candles when I told you I loved you. I love you, Karissa Anne Suthers, and I thank God you are so amazing and forgiving. This is our time now and I’m so happy. Let’s go home so I can prove it.”
Karissa laughed feeling like she was floating on air. “What are we waiting for, deputy? Let’s go home and celebrate.”
Gabe picked her up in his arms and went running for the car with her laughing all the way and telling him he’d better not drop her.
When they finally got inside his house he locked the front door and set the alarm. He wasted no time in stripping both of them out of their clothes, throwing them anywhere they landed. He dangled his handcuffs in front of her, wiggling his eyebrows up and down in a playful manner. She laughed out loud and grabbed them from his hands and ran naked to the bedroom with him chasing after her.
He grabbed her from behind and whispered in her ear. “So my prisoner likes to run? I think I might have to use these handcuffs on her since she’s a very bad girl.”
She turned toward him and ran her hands up his muscular chest, feeling his heartbeat race a little more. She was aroused by his sexy deep voice and his words. “I think I have been a bad girl, what ya gonna do about it, Deputy Wilson?”
She put her hands out together in front of her and looked trustingly into Gabe’s beautiful brown eyes that were filled with love. “Go ahead, cuff me, officer.”
“Oh I plan to, my love.” He chuckled with glee, loving her playfulness. She made everything fun, chasing away his loneliness with her bright smiles and laughter. He picked her up and laid her in the middle of the bed, kissing her and exploring her mouth until she could feel the wetness between her legs gathering. He put her hands straight up and cuffed them to the headboard and whispered, “You’re all mine now, bad girl. I’m going to drive you crazy with pleasure for however long I want.”
His words alone were turning her on and she could feel her wetness dripping down her thighs. He leaned over her and licked her neck and collarbone softly and kissed his way down to her plump rosy nipples, sucking and nipping them with his teeth.
K
arissa closed her eyes but he demanded in his deep voice for her to keep them open. He wanted her to see who was driving her crazy with lust. He looked into her beautiful green eyes that shined with so much love he felt a lump in his throat. He opened her thighs wide, eager to find her welcoming hot liquid that dripped down her thighs. He inserted two fingers inside her pussy, pushing in deep, and had her moaning loudly. He played with her little bud and she whispered in a sexy, breathless voice, “I can’t touch you back, Gabe, and it’s driving me crazy.”
Gabe gave her a wicked smile. “If you’re a good girl I’ll let you go in a minute, baby.”
“What do I have to do to be a good girl?” She pouted playfully, loving the fact that Gabe was willing to make sex fun too. “I’ll do anything for you, officer.”
Gabe chuckled. “If you were any better, babe, I’d probably have a heart attack. But I need to search you thoroughly first.”
He opened her folds and licked her pussy slowly up and down, loving her sweet honey. He could feel her body shaking with need and her skin turning a soft pink with each lick, but he took his time until she came loudly. He leaned back over her face, looking into her eyes, and entered her in one stroke loving the way her vaginal muscles automatically clamped tightly down on him and took him deep into her body, welcoming him like a tight glove.
Gabe reached up and undid the handcuffs and she held on to his shoulders. He lifted her legs up high over his shoulders so he could thrust into her deeper, making her whimper with excitement.
“I love you, my sexy girl.” His words came out in a vow as he plunged into her pussy over and over in a turbulent, frenzied ride. This was how lovemaking should be. Two halves of a whole reuniting to make one perfect moment out of time. When the fire spread through his whole body he eagerly embraced it and set his strokes harder and faster until they both exploded with a burst of hot lightning. As they climaxed together they held on to each other fiercely.
Both of their hearts raced wildly like a runaway freight train and he groaned and reluctantly pulled out of her, missing the sensation of being inside the woman he loved, had always loved.
“I love you so much, Gabe. Thank you, that was amazing and out of this world,” she murmured sleepily, snuggling into his body and feeling replete.
He looked down into her half-closed eyes and gave her such a tender smile that her breath caught in her throat. “I just wanted to show you how I feel about you. I will never leave you again, Karissa. I hope you believe that. Maybe in fifty years or so you will see I’m always here for you.”
Karissa laughed softly and kissed his chest falling asleep with happy thoughts of a future running through her head.
Chapter 12
The next morning at the sheriff’s station the five men were having a meeting in Ryan’s office with the door closed. Ryan didn’t want to worry his receptionist Helen too much by revealing too many details of what was going on with the drug dealers.
Ryan knew that some of the information would leak out to the gossipers. They wanted people to be on alert but not running around in a state of panic.
“The DEA is coming in tomorrow. We sent them our pictures and information we gathered on Cantrell and his companions. They were real interested in these guys,” Ryan began to tell the group.
Harrison nodded and continued. “My buddy Jason Wells from the DEA has been wanting to bust that guy for a while but has never been able to get solid evidence or witnesses to testify against them. He’s coming out with his partner and hopefully we can stop it now before it grows into a larger problem. If Cantrell brings more guys in here it could get more difficult to stop and more dangerous.”
Ethan sighed and ran his hands through his short hair. He stood up, feeling too anxious to sit quietly. “I’m glad my sister took the kids home. I don’t want them targeting Toby and we’ll keep an extra eye out for Karissa. People know a little bit of information of what is going on and will help us keep an eye out if they see anything suspicious. I’ve got two of my students, Mark and Steve, visiting Mr. Harris occasionally and quietly checking things out. I worry about him being out there all alone. His farm is a perfect place for late night meetings. And he is just ornery enough to go and tell them something.”
Logan nodded in understanding. Mr. Harris was a grumpy old man but everyone in Appledale loved the cranky old man and looked out for him. A lot of the younger men helped him take care of the harder work he had to do on the farm. “I’ve been patrolling out there too and it’s been quiet so far.”
“Patrolling or making out with Sara?” Gabe teased his brother, trying to break up the heavy tension and concern that filled the room.
Logan grinned. “I told her it was a make out—I mean stakeout. She thought it sounded dangerous and exciting,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows up and down while the rest of them laughed.
“Maybe we should talk to Tom about letting Karissa have the next few days off,” Ryan suggested, looking over at Gabe. Gabe nodded, feeling his stomach tied up in knots with stress. He would not lose her a second time. He stood up. “You call Tom and I’ll talk to Karissa. She was still sleeping when I left the house.”
“Getting pretty serious there, huh?” Ethan slapped his friend on the back with a wide, teasing grin. “Glad to see your mood has improved since Karissa has come back into your life.”
Logan groaned dramatically and shook his head. “Another one bites the dust.” His face was sad and he looked over at Harrison. “Please say you’re moving here permanently so I can still have a single pal to hang out with.”
Harrison laughed at Logan’s sad dramatic pout. “Yeah, I told Ryan this morning and accepted his job offer. Looks like your sorry asses are stuck with me.”
Logan grinned. “Awesome. There’s an empty apartment in my building. Let’s go take a look at it. There are some hot chicks in 5B that will wow you.”
The rest of the men congratulated Harrison and welcomed him to Appledale and for being the newest deputy.
Gabe drove home filled with thoughts of Karissa. Now he understood better what Ryan and Ethan had felt when their woman was in danger. He was going to protect his little love whether she liked it or not.
* * * *
Karissa did not like the idea that she couldn’t work for God knew how long. She wanted to kick the asses of these drug dealers herself for interfering with her job and plan to save money.
“Gabe, I have to work to save money. I need a car and a place to live. I can’t keep on imposing on my sister forever,” Karissa complained, feeling overwhelmed with all this new information he had just told her.
Gabe sat her on the couch, rubbing his fingers gently over her hand until he felt her breathing slowing down. “Okay, first of all it’s only a matter of time before one or all of them head into Thorn’s. Do you want to be there?”
She shook her head with wide eyes.
Gabe continued. “Karissa, when I said I loved you that means forever. I want marriage, kids, everything life has to offer us. Good or bad, I want to be with you. I want to make you happy and comfort you when you’re sad. If you don’t want to live here we’ll buy something else, okay?”
She swallowed past the lump of emotions stuck in her throat. She had resigned herself that her dreams would never come true but here was this man offering her everything she had ever wished for. She didn’t realize she was crying until he softly kissed her lips. “I hope those are happy tears and not horrified ones.”
Karissa giggled and threw herself in his strong arms, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath so she could speak. “I love you, Gabriel Wilson. I have forever and I want all of that with you too. I’m so blown away by your words and so happy. I can’t wait to tell Casey. She’ll be so happy for us.”
He pulled her onto his lap and enjoyed the moment of feeling her in his arms and her head resting on his shoulder. He could stay like this forever if he didn’t have to go back to work. He thought of Logan’s reaction when he announced his forthcoming
marriage and he chuckled. Karissa looked up at him with curiosity.
“Sorry, honey. We have a town filled with drug dealers, danger lurking around every corner, DEA coming to help. But I’m not sure I can walk back into that station with my ‘mean look’. All I have to do is think of you and I’ll be smiling like a big sap in two seconds flat. You ruined my badass rep, babe.”
Karissa leaned against him giggling and kissed his chin. “I love you so much and I can’t wait for all this to be over. Moving back home was the best thing I’ve ever done. I have you, my sister, and so many new friends. I am overwhelmed with joy.”
“When this is over we’ll go car shopping,” he said, feeling like he was on top of the world. “I want you to have something sturdy for winter.”
“No, not yet, I have to save—” she started to say with regret.
He interrupted her. “Baby, I have plenty of money from my military days and good investments I made. It’s my privilege to buy my wife a car. An SUV or Jeep for the winter roads. That tiny little thing you had was a danger all by itself. I’d never get any sleep worrying about you driving on the winter roads.”
“Hey now, I happen to be an excellent driver when I am not being chased by knife-wielding maniacs.” She pretended to be mad but inside she was touched by his wanting to take care of her. Besides her sister nobody had ever cared for her well-being and it felt good to know she had someone to love who loved her back.
“Do we have time to celebrate our engagement before you go back to work?” she said, putting her arms around his neck and rubbing herself against him in a suggestive manner. She kissed his neck, nipping at his ear and licking his lips softly until his mouth opened up to hers and she invaded his mouth with her tongue, making his cock harden in excitement. She began to unbutton his work shirt and rubbed his chest with her hands, exploring his hard muscular chest with pleasure.
