Chapter 9
Kade
I was halfway through the game highlights when my phone buzzed. I figured it was Carlton, since he always found a way to ruin Friday nights, but Grammy’s name lit up the screen.
It was past her bedtime.
I hit pause and answered.
“Good evening, Kade,” she said sweetly.
“Good evening, Grandmother,” I replied, matching her tone.
“Night off?”
“Why yes. I’m enjoying a pleasant beverage and some television. And how is your evening progressing?”
“I was getting ready for bed when Geraldine called me.”
Ah. An elite member of the Golden Girls.
“How very interesting, Grandmother,” I said, taking a slow sip of beer.
“Her nephew bartends at Rick’s on the weekends.”
“Information I was absolutely dying to hear.”
She ignored me. Of course.
“Rumour has it that a certain new teacher is in said bar—dancing with Nathan Garland. From the hardware store.”
The bottle froze midway to my mouth.
I usually checked in on Juliette while she slept. Gave her space. Let her settle.
Apparently not tonight.
“Isn’t that interesting?” Grammy purred. “Goodnight.”
She hung up, cackling like a witch at a bonfire, leaving me staring at my phone like it had personally betrayed me.
My first thought was to shoot Nathan in the ass.
Just a clean shot—something to remind him where his hands didn’t belong.
But when I imagined those hands on Juliette touching her skin, making her laugh, thinking he had the right—the idea twisted. No, a bullet would be too fast. He needed to suffer. Slow, deliberate. Something that left a mark on more than his body.
It was time this town understood that Juliette Morgan was mine.
I slammed the bottle on the table and grabbed my wallet and keys. For a brief second, I considered taking my service weapon, but I wouldn’t need it.
My fists were more than capable of inflicting pain.
?? ?? ??
There were several patrons outside, and I could already hear how loud the bar was. The music thumped through the walls, quickening my pulse as I pushed forward.
“Sheriff, you here on official business?” Sally called from the doorway.
“No,” I said without slowing. “This is personal.”
I saw her blink as I passed.
“Something’s up,” I heard her mutter.
“Think it’s the new teacher?”
“Oooh, did she jaywalk?”
Laughter followed me, shrill and irritating, like the pack of hyenas they were.
I’d been here before with Nadine, but this was different.
Inside, the place was packed. Juliette wasn’t on the dance floor. I scanned the room until I found her tucked into a corner booth with Cathryn Simmons. No Nathan in sight.
I was halfway across the room when she stood up.
My mouth went dry.
Where the hell was the baggy dress? The cardigan?
Her hair was loose, wild curls framing her face, but the dress… the deep maroon one that clung to every curve that stopped me cold. It was that dress that did me in. Low enough to show the soft swell of her breasts. High enough to give me a glimpse of those thighs I’d spread open.
I remembered the weight of her tits in my hands, the way her ass cushioned every thrust as she took all of me—breathless, silent, begging for more.
She was built for me. For me alone.
My gaze swept the room, narrowing on every man whose eyes lingered as she walked towards the ladies’ washroom.
I decided to catch up with Cathryn and see how my niece was doing in class.
Grace was five. The most trouble she’d gotten into lately was a scuffle over a glitter pen.
But hey—I was just being a responsible uncle.
Not a territorial bastard with a fixation on a certain new teacher.
“Hi, Kade,” she said as she saw me approach.
“Hi, Cathryn. No Sam tonight?”
“Nah, it’s girls’ night with my new bestie,” she said, sitting a little straighter.
I seemed to have that effect on people.
I slid into the booth, leaving just enough room for Juliette to either sit next to me—or awkwardly hover while Cathryn refused to move.
“Can I buy you ladies a drink?” I asked, nodding at the table.
“I’ve still got two, and Juliette’s slow-sipping her way through orange juice,” Cathryn said, nose wrinkling in disgust.
My fingers drummed against the sticky table.
No alcohol. Interesting.
“How’s Grace doing?”
Cathryn smiled and began telling me about my bright, sharp little niece.
I listened in earnest, though my mind started to drift.
I could picture a smaller version of me and Juliette—dark curls, stubborn eyes, a mouth that refused to back down.
The idea had been tucked away in the back of my head, but now it hit me square in the chest. I could see Juliette—soft, glowing, heavy with our child.
Thirty-five was knocking at my door, and I was getting on in age.
All the hopes and plans I’d once had had crumbled after Nadine.
But now I could see it clearly—she’d never have fit with me or my family.
Juliette, though… she was different. Stronger.
Stubborn. Built to carry everything I’d been holding back.
I was mid-thought when Juliette appeared beside the table.
I grinned and patted the seat next to me.
She froze, eyes darting to Cathryn.
Cathryn lifted both hands. “Nope. If I need to hurl, I need a clear shot to the toilets.”
Juliette’s head snapped back to me. “Move.”
“I can’t,” I said, spreading my legs a little wider. “Need the leg room.”
She mumbled something dark under her breath, then sat—rigid and annoyed, thigh brushing mine.
Exactly where I wanted her.
Whether she admitted it or not, I knew she was interested. I’d read her notebook—saw the scribbles about me and my family. She’d circled Grammy’s name more than once.
It was time to unleash the full force of the Mercer clan on her.
Kill them with kindness, as Grammy always said.