Chapter 9 #2
“Watch out for him.” Jesse’s tone was dire.
She brushed him off. “I always take care of Bill.”
“Not Pop. Gage. He has to come out on top and he’ll use you to do it.”
“I don’t know what Gage can do to me now besides annoy the shit out of me. Anyway, do you have any news on the date of your sentencing?”
Jesse’s gaze dropped to his folded hands on the table. “No. My lawyer is going over scenarios, but they all require jail time. I doubt anyone in this county will give me probation.”
“I think the storm last night was bad for the Walkers, especially after what they had to replace after the fire.”
“Don’t forget the tractor I decorated,” Jesse said bitterly. “Whatever, it won’t matter. I doubt I’ll get off with some anger management sessions. I’m stuck here.” He shrugged and looked around. “I don’t know. Could be worse, and there’s a cute little deputy who comes around.”
Josie almost choked on her shock at his last statement. “You’re kidding. Do you think you have a chance?”
“A guy can look.” He snorted. “That’s all a guy can do in this place. Look at each other. Look at everyone going about their day. Look at the walls. Look at the hot cop. But I’d rather be here than prison.”
They fell into an uneasy silence. Prison. Her brother in prison. Even if it was only a year, before he got out for probation, how would he change? All that undirected anger?
“I’ll be here for the sentencing,” she said.
The corner of Jesse’s mouth lifted in a smile. “For me, or to see that Walker boy?”
If she had something to throw at him, she would. “He’s not a boy. He’s, like, twenty-five.”
“Which would be younger than you.”
“By a year.” And way more mature than Gage had ever been.
“As long as it’s not that other cousin, the one who’s even worse than Gage.”
“Cash. Yeah, he doesn’t trust me. I think they’re all a little protective of each other, but especially Brock.”
“Cuz he’s younger?”
Josie shook her head. How much should she tell him? They had been close growing up, could probably claim to be besties, but they didn’t exchange the cringe-worthy details of each other’s personal lives.
“Because he’s different.” She almost winced saying that. The word had such a negative connotation.
There was a knock on the door and they both stopped talking.
“Two minute warning,” a muffled feminine voice called.
It wasn’t the burly male who’d led her into the visitation room. She quirked her brow at Jesse, but he was ignoring her to stare at the closed door.
“Oh my god, that’s her.” Josie giggled and whispered, “You’re in lurve .”
He turned his scowl on her. “Knock that shit off, or I’ll risk another year and thump you.”
“They’re probably listening to everything we’re saying.” Her breath hitched. What if they were? Vague details about Bill’s shady business was one thing, but she was gossiping about the Walkers.
“I have an audience when I shower and when I take a leak. This is no different.”
The door opened and a petite blonde with a stern expression beckoned Josie out.
Josie tried to smile at her, but the woman was all business.
The equipment she wore almost dwarfed her tiny frame and the dark blue shirt tented out over an impressive bust. The poor thing probably had a hard time getting taken seriously.
Reminded Josie of the bunny cop in the latest Disney movie. No wonder her brother was smitten.
“Keep me updated,” Josie murmured to Jesse before she left.
Walking out into the sunshine, she headed in the direction of her car. Time to head home.
Her feet weighed as much as lead bricks and she took her time. A stiff wind fended off the worst of the humidity. She hoped no more storms like last night blew through.
How was Brock doing?
When could she spend another night in his arms?
He liked her. She liked him. So what were they? Would she go back to Waite Park while he hit up the bars and hooked up? Would Cash get him to drop her like the value of a brand-new car getting driven off the lot?
No. Not the way Brock had stood up to him.
She was smiling to herself when the phone rang. Waiting until she was settled into the driver’s seat, she answered.
“Have you left town yet?” Brock’s deep voice rumbled through her like last night’s thunder.
God, she had it bad. And their quickie this morning had only reminded her of how hot it was between him.
“No, I just got done at the jail. How’s your land?”
“Bad. We lost half of the north quarter of canola and we’ll see how much of the corn bounces back.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Not your fault.”
He’d said that before and his tone had been just as literal. He didn’t blame her, but he might not understand how sorry she was for the ill effects of her brother’s momentary insanity.
“Mr. Blackwell called and offered me the Shelby.” Excitement hung on his words and it made her grin.
“All right! You did it.”
“Want to go with me to pick it up?”
“Yes. No. Oh crap. I really do, but my dad is…I don’t want him to find out I passed on it to help you.”
“When are you back here next?”
Her heart sank. “Jesse’s sentencing.”
“I think Dillon said that’d be on August fifth. Do you want to go before or after?”
She chewed her lips and eyed the jail. Jesse hadn’t said a date. Did he not want her present, or was he trying to keep her away from Moore and away from the Walkers? Could be both with him, depending on his mood.
“I’ll call you when it’s closer to see what works best. I doubt Blackwell will mind.” Two weeks away, and she didn’t want to leave in the first place.