“Amanda is an amazing woman, Caleb. You didn’t fail her.”
“Didn’t I?” Caleb laughed harshly. “It all started with me. I was the first to leave her. Then our parents. Then the tools she decided to date.” Caleb sounded like a man who carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. “But none of that matters now. What matters is that you understand why she pushes people away. I assume that’s what happened between the two of you?”
“Your relationship with her is good now, right?”
“Nice deflection, but yeah. It took time, but she came around. I think she may even understand why I left. It was a crazy time and…” Caleb cleared his throat. “Did you tell her you love her?”
Joe sank into his chair. “No.”
“Why the hell not?” Caleb barked.
“Because I want to keep her!” Joe yelled. “I get the feeling that telling her I love her after four days is a surefire way to send her packing. I’m having a hard time dealing with it myself. For chrissake, who the fuck falls in love in four days?”
“My sister did. With you. If there’s one thing I know, it’s Amanda. I knew the minute I saw the two of you together that it wasn’t just a fling.” He blew out a breath. “Listen, Joe, I get that you had a fight, but Amanda didn’t check in with me today and she isn’t answering her cell.”
“She probably doesn’t want to talk to you.”
“Probably. But I’d still feel better if you’d check on her.”
Jake poked his head in the office. “Joe? You need to come out here.” As he started to refuse, Jake added, “Right now.”
The urgency in Jake’s voice caused a swell of dread to settle in his gut. “I’ll call you back, Caleb,” he said, disconnecting the call as he made his way down the hall and through the doorway leading to the bar. “What the hell is going on?”
Jake motioned to the man hovering by the door. “You need to hear this.”
“Ernie?” Joe recognized the man. He and his pal Clete had been regular drinkers and pains in his ass until he’d thrown them out the other night. Generally they were just loud and obnoxious. But after they’d harassed Amanda, that was it.
He glared at Jake. “He better not be asking if he can drink here again.”
Jake shook his head. “Listen.” Jake motioned Ernie over. “Go ahead. Tell him what you told me.”
Joe crossed his arms and widened his feet into a menacing stance. “Well?” he demanded. “Spill it.”
Ernie was visibly nervous. He danced from foot to foot, wringing his ball cap in his hands. “My buddy, Clete. You know, the one who was here with me the other night?”
“Yes, Ernie. I know Clete.”
“He’s not a bad guy. Really he isn’t. He just drinks too much is all. Just like a lot of folks do.” Ernie nodded, agreeing with himself.
“Is this what you brought me out here for? To listen to him spew ode to Clete?” Joe hissed at Jake.
Jake snapped, “Ernie, focus.”
“Right. As I was tellin’ Jake here, Clete got bad upset about that girl hittin’ him the other night. Started talkin’ ’bout how she needed to be taught a lesson and shit like that.”
Joe felt his face go hot with rage. Ernie rushed on. “I tried to talk him out of it. Told him she wasn’t worth the trouble.” He stumbled back as Joe growled dangerously. “He’s been drinkin’ bad since then. Talkin’ crazy talk. When I ain’t seen him around today, I got to wonderin’ ’bout that girl.”
Joe snatched Ernie up by his collar and resisted the urge to choke the living shit out of him. “What the fuck are you talking about?” he snarled. “What about Amanda?”
“Clete followed y’all the other night. Told me y’all left together and went to that big log house of hers.”
Joe felt the blood drain from his face. The bastard knew where she lived.
“That’s why I come to you when I ain’t seen him nowhere. Figured he might try to make good on those things he was sayin’.” Ernie shuffled his feet. “Ah man, I ain’t never hurt a woman. Wouldn’t want to see one hurt neither, if I could help it. So here I am.”
Joe released him and took a step back. She hadn’t checked in. “Does Clete have any weapons?” At Ernie’s blank stare he tried again, only much louder. “Does. Clete. Have. Any. Weapons?”
Ernie shook his head in confusion. “Couple a huntin’ knives maybe.”
Joe turned to Jake. “Use the caller ID. Call Caleb Martin back and tell him what’s going on. Tell him I’ll call him when I get to Amanda.” He sprinted back to his office. His hand was shaking as he turned the dial on his safe. He reached in and felt the cool metal of his .357 SIG against his palm. Within seconds he was locked and loaded. He slid the weapon into the waistband of his jeans and pulled his shirt down over it. He snatched his leather jacket off the back of his chair, shoving his arms into it as he moved back toward the bar.
Stopping only to grab Ernie and throw him into a chair, Joe snarled through clenched teeth. The small spark of violence did little to quiet the bloodlust that rampaged through his veins. “He goes nowhere, Jake,” he commanded. “Keep his ass here and call the cops. Send them to Amanda’s.”
“Got it,” he heard Jake call after him. His motorcycle roared to life and he wasted no time getting on the road. Gravel and dust sprayed, a sign of his haste to get to Amanda.
He prayed he’d be in time.
*
Amanda’s head swam while she struggled to grasp what was happening. She was on the floor. The entryway floor. How had she gotten here? Why did her head feel like it was five times its normal size? She’d been outside. Oh shit. He’d grabbed her. Realization came fast, clearing the fog that filled her mind, and she scurried backward. She screamed when hands wrapped around her ankles and pulled her across the floor. She kicked her legs hard, tried to twist around to her belly, clawing into the wood of the floor.
She was jerked to her back. Pain exploded through her body when her attacker straddled her, pinning her arms beneath her. She bucked her hips, desperately trying to get away. “Ain’t you a feisty one.” At his familiar drunken drawl, she froze. Her hands twitched as she remembered the feel of this one’s jaw under her fist. Clete.
“Remember me, darlin’?” He leaned in until she could feel his breath against her face. The smell of beer and rancid meat made her gag. She turned her head and choked back the bile that burned the back of her throat. His fingers dug into her jaw as he forced her head back to look at him. “Ya gonna tell me not to touch ya now, little girl?” He slapped her face hard.
Fire blazed in the skin of her cheek, taking her breath away. She blinked back the tears that threatened to fall. He pressed his weight on her, severely restricting her air supply. She twisted, trying to release her arms. “Get … off … me,” she gritted out, renewing her struggles to be free.
Clete ignored her. “Ya see, at first, I was just gonna come here and rough ya up a little. Ya know, teach ya a lesson ’bout what happens when little girls mess around with guys like me. But knockin’ ya out outside wasn’t as satisfyin’ as I hoped. So I drug ya back here for what I really wanted.” He grabbed her chin and shook her head from side to side. “Took ya long enough to wake up.” His gaze drifted to her chest. He licked his dry, cracked lips.
“I followed ya,” he sneered. “That night. I watched ya ’bout fuck that guy outside. Watched ya wrap yer pretty little legs around him. Givin’ him what I wanted.” He tore the front of her shirt open, leaving her bare to his gaze. “So now I’m thinkin’ ya owe me a little of what ya screamed for him.”
Amanda didn’t even try to follow his drunken logic. She shouted in fury as he palmed her bared breasts. She had to find a way out of this. Her gaze darted around the room, looking for a weapon. Something, anything to help her. Anything to distract her from the feel of his hands on her. “Scream all you want, darlin’. Ain’t no one to hear ya.” She gagged as he ran his tongue up her cheek. “I’m thinkin’ to take my time with ya. Enjoy ya
right good.”
He was stinking drunk, thank God for that. Drunk men weren’t rational. Keep him off balance.
Amanda curled her lip. “You aren’t gonna enjoy jack shit if I have anything to say about it.” She braced herself for another hit. It came hard and fast. The tangy taste of blood hit her tongue as she felt her lip split open. She didn’t even try to stop the tears that streamed down her face. “That all you got?” she said as she fought to shake her vision clear.
He growled at her. As his hand came around her throat, she caught a glimmer of silver from his belt.
A hunting knife.
“Shut up, bitch!”
She was frantic now. She needed him to come closer. She shuddered at the thought, but it was her one shot. Maybe her only shot. “Some man you are, you slimy bastard,” she ground out.
He swayed above her, watching her with disbelief. “What’s that?” He leaned down to get nose to nose with her, loosening his grip on her throat. Amanda gasped for air, using all of her strength to smash her head into his. She felt the bridge of his nose give way under the hard bone of her forehead. Just like her brothers had taught her.
He yelled out as he leaned back and clutched at his nose. He looked down in shock at the blood that flowed into his hands. She twisted violently beneath him and pulled her arms free.
She didn’t … wouldn’t think. She grabbed for the hilt of the knife on his belt. The minute the knife cleared the sheath, she plunged it into his thigh. His scream filled her ears as she pushed away from him. She got to her feet and ran toward the kitchen. Just as she cleared the doorway her feet were pulled out from under her again and she went down hard.
“I’ll kill ya for that, bitch.”
Amanda felt something warm run down her forehead. This was it. She’d taken her chance and lost. Dizziness overwhelmed her. She watched in wonder as a large shadow formed behind Clete. She imagined her knight in shining armor coming to save her. “Joe,” she whispered before everything went black again.
*
Joe kicked through the front door just in time to see Amanda hit the ground. He cursed and grabbed Clete by the back of the neck. He watched with horror as blood ran down Amanda’s forehead. His blood ran cold as he saw the skin exposed by her torn shirt, his gut clenching at the thought of another man’s hands on her, hurting her. His body shook with the need to kill the motherfucker who’d touched her. The motherfucker he had in his grip.
Joe slammed Clete into the floor and grabbed the hilt of the knife still sticking out of his leg. “If anyone is gonna die here today, it’s you, you fucking asshole.” Clete cried out as Joe wiggled the hilt back and forth. “And I can make it take a long time.”
“Joe?” Amanda’s voice was weak.
Pushing Clete’s face to the floor with a warning, Joe released him and rushed to Amanda. “I’m here, baby,” he said, dropping to his knees beside her. He helped her sit up before pulling her into his arms. “Shh, it’s going to be all right now. I’ve got you.”
To his surprise, she pushed him away. “Get him out, Joe. Please, just get him out,” she begged, her arms going around her legs a second before she dropped her head to her knees. “Just get him out,” she repeated over and over.
Rage unlike he’d ever known blanketed him. He brushed his hand over her hair before he stood. “You’re safe now,” he promised.
Rising to his full height, Joe moved like a predator, approaching Clete with deadly intent. He clamped his hand around Clete’s throat and forced him to his feet. Joe tightened his grip, fully aware he’d stopped the flow of air. He pulled Clete toward the front door and outside onto the porch. He wanted Clete as far away from Amanda as possible. Joe tossed him from the porch, dust kicking up as Clete landed in the dirt with a grunt.
“Not so tough now, are you?” Joe stalked down the steps. He circled Clete, his anger all-consuming. His boot connected hard against Clete’s rib cage before he moved around him once again. More.
Joe grabbed him by his shirt and yanked him up. The smell emanating from Clete made Joe’s eyes water. “You wanna play, tough guy? How about you play with me, hmm? I guarantee it won’t be like taking on a woman half your size.” Joe slammed his fist into Clete’s face. He grinned as Clete went down again, the sound of bones breaking under his fist filling him with satisfaction. “Ouch,” he taunted, “that’s gonna hurt when the alcohol wears off.” More.
“Joe.” Joe’s head snapped around at the sound of Amanda’s voice. “Enough,” she pleaded.
Joe glanced back at Clete, anger still coursing through his veins. He clenched his teeth against the need to punch the fucker again. Clete watched him warily, his eyes dazed, although from pain or alcohol Joe wasn’t sure.
Joe leaned over, his hands on his knees as he fought for control.
Amanda. His Mandy. Mine. Calm washed over him at the thought of her.
Clete moaned on the ground, his hands coming up defensively when Joe knelt down beside him. “Consider yourself lucky, you piece of shit.” For good measure, he reached out and pinched Clete’s broken nose between his fingers. “If you so much as even think about Amanda again, I’ll kill you.”
“Joe, stop.” He looked over his shoulder to see Amanda sink down on the top step of the porch, clutching the railing for support.
He released Clete and took a few steadying breaths before closing the distance between them. He stopped halfway, taking in the sight of her. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. She was here, alive and looking back at him with such emotion that he was swamped with shame over losing his shit with Clete. After all she’d obviously been through, she’d also had to snap him out of his rage. God, she was so much better than him.
He was a killer. He would’ve killed Clete and been more than happy about it.
She offered him a slight smile. Joe was in awe of the strength and resolve he saw in her eyes. He wouldn’t disappoint her. No matter how hard he had to fight the urge to kill Clete—and he really wanted to kill him right now—he wouldn’t do it. She was what mattered. Only her. He’d do whatever it took to be the man she needed.
Amanda looked past him and her eyes grew wide with alarm. “Behind you!” she yelled.
Joe spun back to Clete, who’d pulled the knife out of his leg and was gunning in his direction. He raised his forearm, feeling the sharp sting of the blade as it sliced through his skin. Twisting his arm over, he grabbed Clete’s wrist and snapped it. The knife dropped to the ground with a thump, Clete following close behind.
Joe kicked the knife out of reach and snorted in disgust at the blood pouring from Clete’s leg. “You stupid fuck. You’ll probably bleed out right here.” Joe ripped off his shirt and quickly tied it around Clete’s leg, pulling it tight to slow the bleeding.
He grabbed his SIG and shoved the business end in Clete’s face. “You move again and I’ll add a bullet wound to your list of injuries. You get me?” Clete cradled his arm but said nothing. “Gotta put pressure on this wound,” Joe said innocently as his boot came down on Clete’s leg wound. He pressed hard, just to make sure he stayed put. Okay, maybe not just to make sure he stayed put. He may not be able to kill him, but he could sure make him suffer a little.
His brief glance back at Amanda filled him with a mixture of emotions. Seeing her wounds again renewed the rage that threatened to bubble over the surface. He felt like a volcano that was about to blow.
No, he couldn’t look at her yet. Not while Clete was still within striking distance. He had a firm hold on the reins of his anger, but a man could only be pushed so far.
One thing he knew for sure. She wouldn’t be pushing him away again. She was his. When this was over, she’d damn well know it.
*
It was total chaos. And perched on the porch steps, she had a bird’s-eye view of the show. Swarming like locusts, police and medical personnel descended on her yard. Amanda watched with puzzled eyes at the three police cars parked in her drive, one belonging to the sheriff
. Even though she couldn’t remember exactly, she was pretty sure this constituted their entire force.
Joe had ditched his weapon, choosing instead to bind Clete’s hands with rope he’d found in the barn while they’d waited for the police to arrive. He’d barely looked at her. In fact, he’d kept himself very busy with Clete, talking to her over his shoulder to ascertain whether she was okay or not. She was fine, she’d told him. All things considered, she rather thought that was the truth.
A tall, handsome man approached Joe. “What you got there?” she heard the man ask.
“Sheriff,” Joe greeted, reaching out to shake his hand.
The sheriff shook his head slightly, gripping Joe’s hand. “Since we’ve known each other all our lives, how about you cut the crap?”
Joe pulled him in and clapped him on the back. “Thanks for coming, Cooper. I’d appreciate it if you’d get this piece of shit off Amanda’s property.” He indicated an unconscious Clete.
Cooper whistled through his teeth. “Jake said Clete might have gone off the deep end. What happened here? He get mauled by a mountain lion or something?”
“Or something,” Joe replied.
“You do all this damage?” Cooper asked suspiciously as he bent to check out Clete’s injuries.
“Very little of it actually. He’d sustained the majority before I even got here.”
“Well.” Cooper stood and brushed off his hands. “He’s still breathing.”
Joe stiffened at Cooper’s side. “He went after Amanda, Coop.” His voice held a deadly edge. “He should thank his lucky stars he’s still alive.”
“Amanda?”
Joe nodded his head in the direction of her perch. “Amanda Martin. You may remember her; her family has owned this property for a long time.”
“That’s little Amanda Martin?” Coop said with interest. “I remember seeing her on occasion when I’d come out with my dad.” He whistled. “As cute as she was then, I’m not surprised she grew up to be such a stunner.”
One Night Stand Page 11
