by C J Murphy
“There isn’t a single meal I’ve ever had at your house when I haven’t stuffed myself to the gills. I love everything you make, except liver. You know me. No organs or innards. And no soup!”
Kristi’s small laugh always reminded her of a baby’s giggle. “Got it, no organs or innards. I was already scolded about the soup suggestion. How about barbeque ribs? Side dishes yet to be determined.”
“You’re making my mouth water. Can you throw in some lime pickles?”
“That’s a given, honey. Make your way over here around seven. Sarah’s working dayshift and will be home before you get here. Daniel can finish them on the grill.”
“Thanks, Kristi. We’ll see you then.”
She hung up the phone and called Jax’s cell phone. The sultry hello sent a shiver down Chance’s spine. “Good morning, beautiful.”
“Good morning. How are you this morning?” Jax asked.
“Bored. I miss my runs and riding Kelly. Taylor and the rest of the guys have been working everyone out to keep them exercised. I’m itching to get back in the saddle.”
“Then I shouldn’t tell you that I just came back in from a ride, should I?”
“Oh, that was a low blow. Anyway, I called to ask if you want to go to dinner with Kendra and me out to Sarah and Kristi’s? Barbeque ribs are on the menu. Will you come?”
“What time?”
“I’ll pick you up at six unless you want to do something else earlier?” Chance enjoyed spending time with Jax, no matter what they were doing.
“I’ve got some final things I need to do at the office. A delivery of some new equipment came in yesterday, and I want to get it installed. My plan is to open the practice full time next week.”
Chance knew their opportunity to spend a great deal of time together was coming to an end. She would soon be back to full duty, and Jax would be busy running her practice. “Need any help?”
“If that help involves a tall, dark, handsome woman, then yes. I can always use the help. Thanks for offering Kendra.”
“Oh, you are full of piss and vinegar this morning, which is more than I can say for poor Kendra. She’s communicated mostly in grunts so far.”
Chance watched Zeus sniff around the edge of the tree line and hike his leg on one of them. The morning air was quickly warming in the bright sunlight, and she turned her face to it.
“I remember when we were that young. Sadly, I was always an early riser. As soon as I could get out of the house, I did. I’d spend all day outside if I could. Jennings and I would take off and maybe make it home for supper.” They grew quiet for a few moments. Zeus came to sit by Chance, and she bent down to put an arm around him.
“Enough of this trip down memory lane. Can I bring you breakfast, or have you already eaten?”
Chance smiled. “I had some toast earlier. I’ll meet you at the clinic. “
After a few more exchanges, they hung up. Chance found Kendra spreading peanut butter on a toasted waffle.
“I’m going to help Jax down at her office today. I think Mom needs some assistance with a few repairs to that one property they don’t have rented. Can you make sure she doesn’t hurt herself? I’ll stop by there and pick you up about six thirty. Okay?” Kendra nodded and Chance grinned. “Maybe you’ll be able to actually speak by then.” She grabbed her keys and signaled for Zeus to follow.
Twenty minutes later, she pulled into Three Rivers Animal Hospital. Chance admired the sign and liked the new name. Three rivers came together to form the Cheat, down in Parsons. Jax’s truck was there, as was another vehicle in the lot. Leland Kurst stood at the door, talking with Jax. Chance felt the Glock holstered in the small of her back and spoke to Zeus “Blijven.” She watched his countenance change when he shifted into work mode with the Dutch command to stay alert.
Chance exited the truck and brought Zeus with her. She committed the Maryland registration to memory, as she made her way to the front of the building. Leland stiffened when he saw her.
“Thanks, Dr. St. Claire. I’ll call you and make an appointment to get those shots.”
“The office should be open full time here next week. By then, there should be a receptionist instead of an answering machine. Thanks for stopping by.”
Chance approached so that she could see at least one of his hands. The other he’d slid into his pocket when Chance got out of the truck. Zeus was still on alert and in formation by her side.
“Leland, I heard you’d moved back. Come home for work?”
“Sheriff.” He tipped his ball cap and moved the toothpick in his mouth to the other side. “Uh, no. Grandpa hasn’t been well. Dad called and asked me to come home and help with the farm.”
Chance nodded.
“I saw the doc pull in, and I wanted to ask about some shots for my dog.”
Chance nodded again.
Leland slid his filthy ball cap down farther. “Well, I gotta be goin’. I’ll call.”
Chance watched Leland walk past Zeus, who never took his eyes off the greasy-haired man. When Leland made it into his vehicle, he pulled out and sped out of view. Chance turned back to Jax, who had her arms crossed over her chest like she was cold.
“Are you okay?”
‘Yeah, I was so happy to see you pull in. He gave me the creeps.”
Chance stepped forward and drew Jax into her arms. “His family is bad news. I don’t believe him for a second that he came back home to help work on the farm. I don’t want you to be alone with that guy ever. If he makes an appointment, you call me and I’ll be here at your office. Please?”
“I’ll be more than happy to have my own personal security system.”
Chance took the keys from Jax and unlocked the door. “Come on, let’s forget about him. Don’t let him ruin the day. We have work to do.”
Jax shook her head and flipped on the light as she walked into the clinic. Chance stopped her and pulled her back. Her protective nature was on overload, and she needed to feel Jax safely in her arms. She brought their lips together and felt Jax’s knees try to give out. She held her firmly to her own body. Jax slid her arms around Chance’s neck and wrapped a leg around her calf. Their tongues danced, and Chance brushed her right thumb across Jax’s breast, pulling a gasp from her. Their foreheads touched, as they stood breathing each other in.
“I will always be here to protect you. I’m not going to let anything happen to you, Jax. Ever.”
“Do you have any idea how much I want to take you home and strip you out of every stitch of your clothing?”
Chance gasped, doing her best to bring her pounding center under control. She wanted nothing more than to feel Jax’s skin sliding against her own. They hadn’t been able to be alone together for a few days. Her internal temperature was reaching boiling point. A pinpoint of pain on her lower lip brought her mind back when Jax nipped, prompting another passionate kiss. “I have a pretty good idea. Actually, I’m imagining you with nothing on at all and taking great pleasure in being the one to get you that way. Unfortunately, Kendra is probably still at my place.”
Jax dropped her head to Chance’s chest. “And Uncle Marty is home too, damn it. I need to get that paperwork finalized on the Richards place. Then, no matter who’s home where, we have a place to go where we can limit the traffic flow.”
Chance kissed her nose softly. “I’m all for that. I’m scorching the rotors putting the brakes on so many times.” Chance groaned and let Jax move away from her. “Let’s see about getting this work done. Maybe by then, Kendra will be gone.”
Jax winked at her. “Well, at least it’s a plan we can work toward.”
As Jax started to walk away, Chance pulled her in for one final kiss. “Plan your work, then work the plan.”
Large boxes sat in the middle of the reception area. Jax got to work opening them, with Chance’s help. Chance took the time to call the dispatch center and ask them to run the license plate and email her the information. They put together the new reception furnitu
re and a new medication-dispensing system. Together, they put out a display of pet-safety equipment, including reflective collars and leashes.
Three hours later, Chance put down the small drill she’d been using to put the locking cabinets in place. “Hey, by the way, who’d you hire to be your receptionist?”
Jax carried in a packing crate filled with small instruments. “Lindsey Hawthorn. She’ll be my receptionist and assistant. She graduated as a vet tech earlier this year. I stole her from an office in Elkins. She wanted to be closer to home and not have to drive in the winter.”
“I know Lindsey very well. She dates Harley’s daughter.”
“Harley?”
“Sergeant Harley Kincaid. She’s the company commander of the West Virginia State Police, Parsons Detachment. Her daughter, Meg, is at the academy right now. Meg and Lindsey have been dating since high school.”
“Dr. Allen recommended her. He and Uncle Marty have been friends for years.”
Chance stood and stretched her back. “She’ll do a great job for you. I coached her in softball. Hell of a pitcher. You guys ought to join the local league. You’d be ringers.”
“Not so sure about that. College was a lifetime ago.” Jax loaded the cabinet with supplies and laughed when Chance’s stomach growled. “I think I’d better feed you before you pass out. You sound like you’re starved.”
Chance walked up and put her arms around Jax’s waist. She bent and kissed the exposed skin of Jax’s neck. “I’m starved all right. I can tell you food is low on my list. Your ass looks delicious in those jeans.”
Jax groaned and melted into Chance’s touch. She arched her neck, giving Chance more access and threaded her hand into the taller woman’s hair.
“I want you so much. I’m not sure how much longer I can wait. Kendra sent a text that she’s with Maggie working on the rental house. I’m supposed to pick her up from Maggie’s to go out to Sarah’s. That means…my house is vacant.” Chance bit down softly on Jax’s earlobe and reveled in the moan that followed.
“My truck or yours?”
“At this point, I could run there. Mine.”
***
Jax climbed in through the truck door Chance held open for her. Waves of heat radiated from her center; desire pulsed with every heartbeat. With every mile that passed beneath them, she was that much closer to the woman she’d been dreaming about. She put her hand on Chance’s thigh and ran her nail along the skin at the edge of her shorts. She smiled as she felt the muscle tense beneath her touch.
“Chance?”
“Yes?”
“Drive faster.”
Jax laughed when she felt Chance’s leg push on the accelerator. When they turned onto the gravel road that led to Chance’s house, Jax felt her pulse skyrocket. The minute the gearshift slid into park, Chance jumped out and ran around to help Jax out. They were laughing so hard, they nearly fell trying to get up the steps.
“I haven’t felt like this since the last time I touched you.”
Chance was standing on the step below Jax. “Put your arms around my neck.”
Jax protested. “Your arm.”
Chance put her arm around Jax’s waist. “For once, stop worrying. I’m all right. Just feel, Jax.”
Jax relented and slid her arms around the strong neck before her. When Chance pulled her in, she wrapped her legs around the hips before her. This was becoming a pattern she was growing to enjoy. Chance opened the door and ushered Zeus inside. She locked it behind her and flipped the deadbolt. Jax greedily kissed her, as she ground her center into Chance. When they broke the kiss, Jax had only one word to say, “Bed.”
Chance turned their bodies and walked directly to her bedroom. She tumbled them both onto the quilted surface. “I can’t wait until I have two good hands to enjoy you with.”
Jax flipped them. “Well until then, let me do the honors.” She sat up, pulled her shirt out of her shorts, and began slowly unbuttoning her shirt. She watched Chance’s eyes turn liquid. Her hand roaming across Jax’s body sent shivers of pleasure through her. She dropped the button-up off her shoulders and let it pool around her arms. She leaned over and whispered in Chance’s ear. “I love you, Chance. You are everything to me.”
Chance cupped the side of her face and drew her down for a kiss. “The love I had for you stayed alive inside of me, tucked in a place no one could touch. If you’d never come back, that wouldn’t have changed.”
“That was true for me too. Thank God I made my way back.”
Jax pushed up Chance’s shirt and revealed the rippling muscles that lay there. “Damn you. No one should look this good at our age.”
“Have you looked in the mirror?”
“Sheriff, I’m in shape, but I don’t look like this.” She drug her finger down the prominent center line that separated the squares of muscle.
“Well, all I can say is I love the shape you’re in. You’ve got curves I love to run my hands along. You’re so perfectly female.”
“Yes, my love, I am all woman. A woman in love with another perfect woman.” Jax began to rock against Chance. “A woman that needs you to touch me, right now.”
“With pleasure.”
Chance sat up, and Jax stripped her of the T-shirt she wore to perfection. Hands fumbled with buttons, clasps, and shorts until they lay stripped bare, skin to skin. When there was nothing between them, Chance brought her hand to Jax’s center and slid two fingers inside her.
“You feel so good. You’ve always known exactly how to touch me.” Jax rocked hard against Chance’s hand.
A third finger slipped inside, as Jax grasped her own breasts. “Damn that fucking cast. I hope you get that thing cut off soon. I need both your hands on me.”
“I’m right there with you. Until then, come up here. I’ll let my one hand wander over those perfect curves while my tongue reminds you what it’s like to ride the rapids.”
Jax slowly crawled up her body and poised above her. “It’s been more than a long time since anyone’s done this to me.”
“Then you were married to a fool.” Chance reached up and pulled her down.
Jax felt the first touch of Chance’s mouth to her center and moaned. “I was the fool. This was where I held your memory closest to me. In every memory of you doing this. I was the fool for ever leaving you.” Jax moaned, as Chance pushed her tongue deep inside her, making her legs quiver. She felt Chance brush her tongue across her clit. “Oh, my God.”
Chance’s tongue lashing continued with flat even strokes and small circles. Jax grabbed the headboard for stability. She never wanted this to end. She could feel the waves starting deep inside her. Warm waves that rippled through her until she could barely hold herself up. Chance held her in place with one strong arm as she licked and sucked her.
“Chan—”
She couldn’t get her lover’s name out as her climax hit hard, nearly doubling her over. Wave after wave of pure pleasure rolled through her until she could no longer hold herself up. She slid down and moved until she lay side by side with Chance.
Chance whispered a question full of concern. “You okay?”
Jax reached up and put a finger to Chance’s lips. There was no way in hell she was ready to make complete sentences.
Chance said nothing more for a long time, as they lay together. Finally, Jax rose up on an elbow and ran her fingers lightly over Chance’s chest in lazy patterns. She bent down and kissed Chance, lingering for a moment. “Don’t ever leave me.”
Chance raised a hand and crossed her heart. “I promise.”
“Make good on that promise, Sheriff. I’m holding you to it, and I’ve waited a lifetime for it.”
Chapter Fifteen
HOURS LATER, CHANCE STOPPED in front of Maggie’s. Kendra lumbered out of the house and climbed into the rear door of the Tundra with a large case in her hand.
“Hey Jax. You two get the clinic ready?”
Jax let her hand continue to rest on Chance’s thigh. “We d
id, mostly.” She watched Chance out of the corner of her eye. “Chance is very talented.” She tried hard not to laugh when Chance risked a smirk.
“I’ve heard that.” Kendra muffled a laugh with a fake cough.
“Watch it smartass, I’ll hang you up by your belt loop like I did when you were nine.” Chance shook her head.
“I’d like to see you try. Remember, you’re the one who taught me self-defense.”
Jax laughed at the two. She’d seen, many times, that families of choice often carried bonds stronger than those forged by DNA. She remembered teasing like this with Jennings when they were kids.
They traveled to Laneville, where they turned up Edelweiss Drive. A large, timber-frame home came into view, smoke rising from a grill on the corner of the deck.
Kendra pointed. “Hey, there’s Daniel.” A tall, lanky young man waved with a set of barbeque tongs.
“He’s been working on his archery skills. Don’t be surprised if he kicks your ass, Bullseye.”
Kendra cracked her knuckles. “When pigs fly.”
Jax nearly snorted at Kendra’s competitive nature. The truck came to rest beside Sarah’s Jeep. Zeus barked, as a golden retriever jumped off the deck to greet the vehicle. The minute Jax exited, the dog planted his nose right in Jax’s crotch, making her jump. “Hey there, handsome. Who are you?”
Sarah came to the steps. “Tucker, stop that! I’m sorry, Jax, we’ve tried to break him of that without much success. Welcome.”
A woman who barely came up to Sarah’s shoulder slid under her arm and waved at Jax. “Hi Jax, good to see you. It’s been way too long. Welcome to the zoo we call home. I hope you’re hungry.”
Kendra walked by them with her archery equipment and snorted. “I’ll bet they’re starving, because they worked so hard at Jax’s clinic.” She exaggerated the word “so” and made air quotes with her fingers, as she climbed the stairs and hugged Kristi before heading to where Daniel was opening the grill.
Sarah raised an eyebrow, and Jax covered her mouth with her hand. She couldn’t hold the laughter back and turned into Chance’s chest, her shoulders shaking. Chance wrapped her arms around her and laughed with her.
