by Chloe Lang
Big Jim nodded. “She’s got the best pipes I’ve ever heard.”
After saying their good-byes, the band exited Mitchell’s garage just as his cell went off.
Who would be calling him this early? Everyone in town knows I played last night at the party. He looked at the name on his screen. Lucas.
“Why are you calling me this time of day?” he asked. “You know I don’t get up before ten after a gig.”
“Phoebe’s in trouble.”
His jaw clenched. She was his muse—always. Even after the breakup, he still pictured only her face during every song he played. She was the inspiration for the sound he’d finally found last night. “What kind of trouble is she in?”
“Her stalker is back. She needs us, Mitchell.”
“Where is she?”
“With me. I’m at her house.”
That was all he needed to hear. “I’ll be there in two minutes.”
“Perfect.” Lucas paused. “We’re going to get her back, Mitchell.”
He heard something odd in his brother’s voice that shocked him. He’d seen them on the sofa during Patrick’s speech. Had they spent the night together?
This was no time to let false hope derail him. Phoebe needed him. She was in trouble. That was all that mattered now. “You can fill me in on the rest when I get there.”
* * * *
Jason looked at the time on his cell and realized Shane was already five minutes late for their meeting.
Fuck. Same old Shane.
Kaylyn walked into his office. “Would you like some coffee, Sheriff?” She yawned.
“I think you’re the one who needs coffee. How late did you stay at the O’Learys’?”
“It wasn’t the O’Learys’. I spent the whole night with Mitchell…I mean…your brother…and the band.”
“You what?” Mitchell and Kaylyn?
“I mean…I’m making this worse.” She shook her head. “Let’s start again.”
“That would be the place to begin,” he said with a grin.
“Mitchell found out that I was a singer last night at the party. So, we all went to his house and we practiced all night. I guess you know that Nancy is leaving. Wolfe Mayhem has a gig in Denver. They need me to be ready. So, of course, I spent the night with them.”
“So you said.” Kaylyn was fun to tease.
She put her hands on her hips. “Stop it, Jason. We jammed all night. That’s all.” She smiled. “I was rambling, wasn’t I?”
“You were, but that’s okay. Why don’t you head home and get some sleep. I can handle things here just fine. By the way, I didn’t know you were a singer.”
“Mostly in the shower, but yes I can sing. Anyway, I promised you I would help and that’s what I will do. I can sleep tonight.”
“Anyone here?” a voice he recognized came from the exterior office.
“We’re in here, Shane,” Kaylyn said.
Phoebe’s brother walked in, cocky as usual. “Kaylyn, you look beautiful as always.”
“And you’re letting your hair grow out. I like it.”
“You can thank the better barbers outside of the prison system for that.”
“You’re late, Blue,” Jason snapped.
Shane shrugged. “You’re the one who changed the time, so I had to rearrange my schedule to accommodate you, Wolfe.”
“You will address me as Sheriff Wolfe. Don’t forget I am your parole officer.”
“How can I forget with you constantly reminding me of that fact?”
“Fellas, I’m going to make a new pot of coffee,” Kaylyn said. “I think we all woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. I’ll make it good and strong.” She rushed out the door.
“Sit down, Blue,” he said, refusing to call him by his given name. Shane had hurt Phoebe. Case closed. Besides, Shane hadn’t called him by name since returning to Destiny either. They may have been friends before Shane’s fuck up, but never again.
The felon smirked and took his time taking a seat. “Let’s get this over with, Wolfe. I have places to be and people to see.”
“Right now, the only place you need to be is in my office and the only person you need to see is me.” Anger boiled inside him, recalling the time he and Shane went to blows at the diner.
“Have you gotten a job yet?”
“I’ve only been out a few weeks, so no. I haven’t.” Shane put his hands behind his head. “Tick-tock, Sheriff. Next?”
What happened to the old Shane, the guy he loved as much as his own brothers? He was gone. He never could understand the sudden change in Phoebe’s brother. No one could. It just didn’t make sense.
Jason pointed to the book on his desk that he’d gotten out for this meeting. “These are the Colorado statutes that govern how a parolee and their supervising officer conduct the process.”
He grinned. “God, you’re not going to read that thing to me are you, Jason?”
“I will if I want to,” he said, shocked that Shane had called him by name. Clearly, a slipup. Maybe there was a chance to help Phoebe’s brother after all, but he didn’t hold much hope for him. The odds for a felon who had committed a crime like Shane’s to become a repeat offender were very high. Jason closed the book and opened Shane’s folder. “You’ve had two drug tests.”
“Clean as a whistle. Doc Ryder told me so.”
“So far, Blue. So far.”
Kaylyn came in with two cups of coffee, with Dylan following behind.
“Everything okay?” He wondered if Dylan had found out any more about Mitrofanov’s whereabouts or the five million dollars of the Knight’s money still missing.
“I just need a minute with my cousin, Sheriff, if you don’t mind.”
“Why not? We’re done here today.” He wondered what Dylan had to say to Shane. Probably just some family business. Shane’s mother, Alice, was sister to Jane, Dylan’s mother. Of all the men who had been brought up in the Blue and Strange households, only Shane had fallen on the wrong side of life. Corey was a US marshal. Dylan an agent of the CIA, and his brother Cameron was CFO at TBK and honest as the day was long. Why Shane had turned out the way he had just didn’t make any sense.
“Here you go, fellows.” Kaylyn handed him the cup. “Black for the sheriff. Cream and sugar for you, Shane.”
“You remembered,” Blue said, taking his. “Thank you.”
“Dylan, would you like a cup?” Kaylyn asked.
He shook his head. “No thank you.”
The phone at the desk in the other office rang. “Back on the job,” she said, leaving them.
“Blue, I’ll see you in a week. You better have a job by then. Am I clear?”
“Crystal.”
“Then you can go. Dylan, I’d like to talk to you about that other matter when you’re finished with your cousin, if you don’t mind.”
Kaylyn returned, her face white. “It’s for you and Dylan, Sheriff. A woman named Brown.”
“Put her through.” She probably wanted to update him on the case.
Kaylyn shook her head. “She already hung up. She’s coming over now.”
“What else did she say, Kaylyn?” Dylan asked.
“Kip Lunceford has escaped.”
Chapter Five
Phoebe came out of her bathroom, expecting to see Lucas, but found Mitchell standing in her hallway instead. “Where’s Lucas?”
“Gone.” Mitchell had made her heart melt with his songs. She’d missed their private jam sessions for far too long. “He’ll be back tomorrow morning. He’s going to stay up at the Stone Ranch tonight. They’re working around the clock to get the dorm done by the deadline. I’m your new bodyguard for now.”
“He told you about the calls from the stalker?”
“Yes, he did. But he also told me there’s a lot more you want to talk about.”
“There is,” she said, recalling seeing Mitchell talking to Kaylyn last night. “But I’m in a rush.” She looked at the time on her phone. “Jennifer Steele is going
to be at my office in five minutes for our meeting. I don’t want to be late.”
“Then let’s go. But we will talk later, understand?”
Mitchell wasn’t going to let her off the hook, and she was glad about that.
She picked up her briefcase and headed toward the front door. “Yes, we will. I’ll tell you everything. It’s long overdue.”
His eyebrows shot up. “I like the sound of that.”
“Perhaps you should hold judgment until after we talk. You know how I can be, Mitchell.”
“I love everything about how you can be, Phoebe Blue.”
She hoped he would feel the same way once they sat down and hashed things out. Had she waited too long? Was he already in love with Kaylyn?
Taking the keys from her hand, Mitchell locked the door behind them and they walked the short distance to her office.
Ashley was sitting at her desk when Phoebe and Mitchell walked in. “Good morning, boss. Coffee is ready. Everything is set up in the conference room for you. Mrs. Steele is already there.” Ashley handed Phoebe a new cell. “I got you a burner phone this time.”
“How?” Phoebe wouldn’t have the slightest idea where to get one.
“Jena Taylor suggested I do that instead of a regular phone.”
“Jena would know how to avoid contact after all her years of running from her ex,” Mitchell said.
“She’s not running any longer.” Ashley had become close to Jena over the past month. “Don’t forget her wedding is Saturday night at the chapel, boss. Seven sharp.”
“I won’t. Mom is catering the reception.”
“Boss, don’t give this number to anyone other than me and your family.” Ashley turned to Mitchell and smiled. “And men that you trust. No one else.”
“Got it.” Recalling the call from the stalker, Phoebe turned to Mitchell.
He grabbed her hands. “I’m not going anywhere, honey. I’ll wait out here until you’re done.”
Same Mitchell she’d always known. He could always read her mind.
“Thank you.”
He sent her a loving wink and then looked at Ashley. “How about some of that coffee? I could really use some.”
Ashley grinned. “Looks like you had a long night.”
“Don’t go there, Ash. Cart before the horse, if you know what I mean.”
“I always do know what you mean, boss. I also know what’s good for you. That’s why you pay me so well. You better get in there, Phoebe. I’ll take care of your man.”
“My man?” Phoebe smiled, loving the sound of those two words together. “I should dock your pay right now for insubordination.”
“Don’t you dare,” Mitchell jumped in. “She deserves a raise in my opinion.”
“Didn’t ask for your opinion, Mr. Wolfe,” she teased.
Ashley laughed. “Don’t listen to her, Mitchell. She knows I’m right. I have some cinnamon rolls I picked up from Blue’s earlier, too. How does that sound?”
“Perfect,” he said, taking a seat on the sofa. “I’m starving.”
Phoebe walked into the conference room, praying Ashley was right. “Hi, Jennifer.”
“Hello, counselor,” her client and friend answered.
Phoebe needed to get her head back to this case. Jennifer deserved her best. She was a strong woman. Losing Bill twelve years ago had crushed her, but she’d survived, taking charge of the vast ranching Steele Empire.
“How’s my case?”
“With the files I got from your vet showing your cattle had a clean bill of health, I believe we can get Braxton to drop this suit.” Phoebe took a seat. “I’ve interviewed several people involved in the sale and transportation of your cattle to their processing plant. I’ve got one thing left on my list. Ashley and I are going to Chicago next week to talk to their staff vet, the man who said your cattle tested positive for mad cow. I’m sure there’s been a mix-up. Once I see his files, this might be over then.”
Jennifer listened to every detail that she’d uncovered.
When Phoebe finished, the reigning unattached queen of the subs of Phase Four grabbed her hand. “Thank you, Phoebe. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
“The same for me, Jen. May I talk to you about something?”
“Of course.”
“It’s about the Wolfe brothers.”
“I knew something was up when I saw you at the Halloween party holding Lucas’s hand.” Jennifer smiled. “Talk to me.”
“I’m about to go down the rabbit hole with the Wolfe brothers again. Hopefully, it’s going to be good for me like Ashley believes, but I’m afraid I’ll get my heart broken again.”
“Honey, for years I’ve watched and seen how they look at you at every event we have. I’ve also seen how you look at them. It’s evident that you are still in love with each other. So, I say it’s past time you got this situation straightened out for the good of all four of you.”
“But what about Shane and all that happened between him and Jason? How can we get past that?” She wanted to so badly. She loved her men.
“You’ve never tried, have you? If I remember correctly, you closed them out. In all my years, I’ve always discovered that if you try, you can find a solution. Bill and I had a wonderful marriage, but we, too, had our bumps in the road.”
“Everyone does, I suppose.” Bill had died when Jen was only twenty-nine. Now, twelve years later, Phoebe could see she was stronger than most, though her heart was clearly still broken.
Jen nodded. “The only way we got through them was to be honest with each other, truly honest. God, I miss that man.”
Phoebe grabbed her hand. “We all do, Jen.”
The woman’s eyes brimmed with tears. “Sweetie, love is worth the risk. Trust me.”
* * * *
Mitchell opened the entrance door of Phong’s Wok for Phoebe. They walked inside.
“Two?” Hiro Phong, the owner asked.
“Yes,” he told him. “Can we have a booth away from the window?”
“You betcha,” the man answered. Hiro’s English was perfect, thanks to his wife of three decades, Melissa, who was from Missouri. He handed them menus as they sat down.
Mitchell made sure he had his back to the wall so he could get the best view of the entire restaurant, including the entrance and the windows. Phoebe sat across from him. He wasn’t about to take any chances with her safety.
Hiro smiled. “I’ll bring you some hot tea. Phoebe, right?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“Water for you, Mitchell?”
“Usually, but today, may I have coffee instead?”
“You got it, cowboy.” Hiro rushed back to the kitchen as more Destonians filed into the restaurant.
“I’m starving,” Phoebe said with a grin, which thrilled him. “Mitchell Wolfe, you didn’t leave me one cinnamon roll. You still have that big appetite I remember.”
“You’re right, and that’s why I’m hungry again.” It felt good to be so relaxed around her. Really good. “I’m going to start with egg rolls and crab puffs, followed by sesame chicken with fried rice.”
“Are you sure that’s enough?” she teased.
He smiled. “Actually, I’ll have dessert after.”
Joshua, Phong’s son and the Knight’s pilot, walked in with a person Mitchell didn’t recognize. The guy resembled Josh some, though from his mother’s side only.
Hiro stepped up to the duo, handing them aprons. “I need your help today. Dishwasher and hostess both called in sick.”
“It’s my lunch hour,” Joshua protested.
“Uncle Hiro, I’ve never waited tables before,” the other man said.
“Jacob, no time like the present. Josh, I only need you for the rush. Help an old man out, boys.”
“You got it, Pop.” Josh winked. “I’ll help you, Jacob.”
“Looks like we might have to wait on your food for a while, Mitchell.” Phoebe grabbed his hand and gave him one of her mo
cking looks. God, he’d missed her. “I hope you will survive, Mr. Wolfe.”
“How much time do you normally take for lunch, counselor?”
“An hour, but Ashley’s got everything covered. I need to pick up my dress for Jena’s wedding Saturday and then I plan on working from home this afternoon. No court dates today.”
“Works for me.”
“Besides, I think my bodyguard needs to stretch out on my sofa and get some much-needed rest. When was the last time you slept?”
He shrugged. “Night before last, but that doesn’t matter. I’m here for you.”
“I know, and you can’t imagine how much that means to me. But when we get to my house, I’m determined you get to take a nap.”
God, he loved her fire. He missed being with her.
Joshua walked over and handed them their drinks. “Nice to see you two together.”
“It’s only lunch, Josh.” Phoebe grinned. “Don’t jump to conclusions.”
“I’m not the only one who is assuming that you two might be back together.” Joshua motioned to several customers who were glancing their direction. “You know how the people in Destiny are, Phoebe.”
She nodded and smiled.
Everyone seemed acutely interested in her and Mitchell, even Belle White, Amber’s sister, who wasn’t even a native of the town.
“Just take our order, please.”
Phoebe ordered sweet and sour chicken.
Feeling his stomach roll, he added another entrée to the list. “And more coffee, please.”
“I’ll have mom put on a new pot. Thanks.” Josh walked away.
Mitchell looked over at Phoebe, who was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. “Lucas told me that you wanted to talk.”
She nodded. “I do, but let’s have our lunch first. Okay?”
“I’ve waited three years to talk, honey. If all I have to do is wait a few more minutes, that will be just fine with me.”
“Thank you. I just need to get my thoughts clear before we dive in. Besides, you’re starving, right?”
He reached across the table and grabbed her hands. He could feel her tremble. “I’ve been starving to be with you again, Phoebe. Whatever time you need, I’ll give it to you. I can see it in your eyes. You’re ready to give us another shot, aren’t you?”
