Chapter 12 #2
Pulling back a little, I studied her face, trying to read her. I heard what she was saying, and I was so damn tempted to do just as she’d requested, but I'd seen the fear in her eyes too many times. I had no idea who had put it there, but I damn sure didn’t want to be another one to do so.
“Wolfe, you won’t hurt me.” She said the words with such conviction I couldn’t help but believe her.
Sliding my hands down to her ass, I hefted her off her feet in one quick move, spinning us around so her back was to the wall. When she inhaled sharply, I crushed my mouth to hers.
Amy knocked my ball cap off as her hands gripped my head, holding me to her. Her soft mewls and sweet moans had my dick roaring to life. What I wouldn’t give to strip her naked and sink deep inside her right this fucking minute. I felt like I'd been waiting a lifetime for her.
I finally pulled back for air, but Amy’s mouth trailed over my jaw, down to my neck, and I groaned. “Darlin’, you’re temptin’ a very hungry man right now.”
“Mmm-hmm.”
No, she clearly didn’t understand. I was nearing my breaking point. One of these days, I wasn’t going to be able to stop. And I had to stop. Seriously. We were at the shop, and the first time I was inside this woman damn sure wouldn’t be here.
She licked me and my breath locked up. “Amy… Darlin’…”
When she lifted her head, our eyes met and I saw her desire reflecting back. She wanted this as much as I did.
“I’ve never felt anything like this,” she whispered. “Never.”
Yeah, that made two of us.
“Yo! Where the hell you at, Wolfe?”
Shit.
I lowered Amy to her feet knowing Lynx would come directly upstairs looking for me. The last thing I wanted was for the man to find us like this. Not that I really gave a shit, but I wasn’t interested in Lynx giving me shit for the rest of my life. Which he would.
“I should get back to work.” Amy glanced around the room as though looking for something to do. “Crap.”
“What?”
“No way he’s gonna think we were working.”
Nope, he wouldn’t.
Amy’s head snapped up, her eyes meeting mine. “Next time you wanna make out like teenagers, let’s make sure to do it in my office. That way I can at least pretend to be doing something productive when we get caught.”
I laughed. “Yes, ma’am.”
I would definitely remember for next time.
Rhys
I hadn’t heard from my sister all damn day although I'd texted her twice and tried to call her once. On my way home, I decided to stop by the bar to check on her, but I found it closed up tight.
As I was sitting in the parking lot, another car pulled in. I glanced in my side-view mirror to see Amy pulling up beside me. She got out of the car and walked around to my side of the truck after looking at the door and seeing the same Closed sign I saw.
I rolled down my window. “Hey.”
“Hi.” She smiled, her eyes softening as she looked at me. She rested her hands on the door. “I came to check on her. I’ve been worrying about her all day.”
“Yeah. Me, too.”
“Where do you think she is?”
I shrugged, glancing back up at the door. “At home, most likely. She’s done this before when she and Billy get into it.”
“He’s an asshole.”
My eyes slammed into her face, my laugh rumbling out of me. I hadn’t expected that to come out of Amy’s sweet mouth. “That he is.”
She leaned back, her fingers still curled over the door. “Well, I don’t know where she lives, so I can’t very well go check on her. But if you are, I guess—”
“Hop in,” I said, nodding toward the passenger door. “We can go together. Maybe she won’t kick my ass if you’re there.”
Amy’s face lit up. She released the truck and hurried around to the passenger side. When she was in and buckled, I pulled out of the parking lot and headed south on the main road through town.
“I know it’s none of my business, but…” Amy fidgeted with her hands in her lap.
“What?” I glanced over at her briefly, then turned my gaze back to the road.
“Have they been together long?”
I nodded. “Eight years or so, I guess.”
“They’re not married, right?”
“Nope.” That was the only good thing about their relationship.
“Does he hit her?”
“No.”
“How do you know that for sure?” Her eyes were wide, as though she didn’t believe me.
“I know Reagan. She puts up with a lot of shit, but she would never tolerate him laying a hand on her.”
“Oh. Okay.”
The way she said it made me think she felt as though I was judging her. Was that what she was running from? An abusive ex-boyfriend?
“I don’t mean it like—”
“No. I get it. Reagan’s tough, anyway. I’m sure she could kick his butt.”
Reagan was feisty; there was no doubt about that.
“I honestly don’t know why she’s with him,” I told her, wanting to explain. “They’ve been together on and off since high school. I always thought…”
“What?” Amy was watching me intently.
I pulled off the main road toward Reagan’s house. “I always thought she had a crush on someone else.”
“Who?”
I shrugged. “No clue. But it never seemed like she was really into Billy. He was just a way to pass the time.”
“Good grief. I’m sure there are two dozen other men in this town who’d be better to pass time with than him.” It was clear Amy wasn’t fond of the guy.
“Yeah. There are.”
When we pulled up to Reagan’s little two-bedroom rental, I noticed her truck was outside.
So was Billy’s.
“Do they live together?”
“Yeah. But he’s gone a lot. He installs fiber optic lines throughout the state. And when he’s not workin’, he’s usually out partyin’. Stay there. I’ll get your door.”
I shut off the engine, then made my way around to her side of the truck. When I heard the yelling coming from inside, I was tempted to tell Amy to stay put. I doubted that would go over well. After all, she had gone to the bar specifically wanting to check on Reagan.
Opening the door, I paused, my attention turning toward the house. I checked for my gun although I knew it was there.
“You think we should interrupt?” she asked, her eyes wide as she watched the house.
“Someone has to.”
Amy linked her fingers with mine, and I paused to stare down at our hands for a moment. It hit me then that I was here with Amy, and I hadn’t seen her since Saturday night. Although I knew there was an incident inside that had to be dealt with, there was suddenly something more pressing.
Turning to face her, I tilted her head back with my finger and leaned down.
She met me halfway and I felt some of the pressure on my chest dissipate. I hadn’t realized I'd been holding my breath until then.
Her free hand clutched my waist as I deepened the kiss. As much as I wanted to linger, I knew we needed to get this over with. Maybe then I could spend a couple of hours with her. Alone.
“Come on,” I said, kissing her nose before pulling her to my side. “Let’s see what’s goin’ on.”
I didn’t bother knocking. It wouldn’t have been heard over the angry voices coming from inside.
“I fuckin’ hate you!” Reagan screamed. “Hate. You.”
“Yeah, well, I fuckin’ hate you, too.”
“Then let me leave!”
“Hell no. And what? Have you go fuck Lynx Caine? Ain’t happenin’, sweet thang. No way am I lettin’ that bastard get his hands on you.”
“Give me my truck keys!” Reagan yelled.
I stepped inside, quickly scanning the room for a threat. Reagan was standing just a few feet from the door with a suitcase at her feet. Her hands were on her hips as she stared back at Billy, who was lounging in a ratty recliner.
“Get the fuck outta my house!” Billy hollered, shooting to his feet as soon as he noticed Amy and me.
“What’s goin’ on?” I asked, looking at my sister.
“He stole my truck keys. I’m tryin’ to leave.”
“And go where?” Billy taunted. “You ain’t got nowhere to go. I’m the only one dumb enough to put up with your shit.”
Same fight, different day.
I released Amy’s hand and stepped back, motioning toward the door. “Y’all go outside and I’ll get your keys.”
In the past, Reagan would’ve told me to mind my own business. I figured the fighting was as much her fault as Billy’s and she did it to piss the man off. I'd intervened before, only to be kicked out of her house, with her insisting that they would work through it; they always did.
This time, Reagan nodded her head, snatched up her suitcase, and barreled through the screen door with Amy just a couple of steps behind her.
Looked as though my sister really was done with this asshole.
Thank God for small miracles.
I held out my hand. “Pass ’em over.”
“Fuck you.”
I sighed. “Don’t you think it’s time you grew the fuck up?”
“Oh, don’t go gettin’ high on your horse, Sheriff.”
“I’m not here in an official capacity, Billy. That’s my sister you’re stringin’ along. What I don’t get is why she hasn’t left your sorry ass long before now. Just give me the damn keys and you can move on with your life.”
“She ain’t gettin’ the rest of her shit.”
I cocked one eyebrow. If Reagan wanted anything else in the house, I'd make sure she got it, but I wasn’t interested in playing this game with Billy right now.
“Keys, Billy.”
He tossed them over, glaring at me. “I ain’t takin’ her back this time. She just lost the best damn thing she ever had.”
I choked on a laugh. If Billy Watson was the best damn thing in her life, Reagan had nowhere to go but up.
With that, I walked out the front door, gently pulling it shut behind me.