10. Diamond
DIAMOND
“I know, Dad, trust me, heads are gonna roll,” I say, assessing the fence as I talk to my dad on the phone. When Dustin, Sapphire, and Topaz checked the boundary this morning, they came back with grave news.
I don’t know what the fuck is going on, but I can take one guess.
“I’ll be over as soon as I’m done here,” he replies. “I’ll bring supplies.”
“Dad, I have everything I need in the shed.”
“I know, but just in case.”
I smile to myself. “Thanks. See you soon.”
No matter what I say, my dad always wants to help. He lives across town on a small parcel of land with his dog, Burt, a Cavalier King Charles, and a whole bunch of animals.
“This is fucked,” Sapphire says. “We need to check the surveillance cameras.”
I give her a look. “We’ve never needed them before.”
“Right, but that was before these asswipes decided to move in on us.”
I rejected a counter offer with Mr. Lanzetti himself yesterday, and now they want a sit-down. I wonder how that affects the restraining order?
If I sit down with him today, I’ll probably slit his throat with any tool I can get my hands on. The sharper the better.
“They’ll get what’s coming to them,” I reply. “I’ll have Gem and Coral patrolling at night until this whole mess clears up.” Gem and Coral are our two prospects. Coral, also known as Lisa, usually guards the front gate, but she won’t mind a little action out on the prairie.
I run a hand over my face as Ruby grips my shoulder. We all rode out here to check on the damage. “It’s gonna be okay. We’ll get to the bottom of it, one way or the other.”
I roll my neck, wanting this nightmare to be over, but I know this is just the beginning.
I’m in their way. Even if they take me out personally, my club will avenge my wishes regarding this ranch.
It’s my lifeline. The very thing that brought me back from the brink.
The place I reunited with my child and gave her a happy home when her father was convicted of fraud and several other crimes.
It’s the place that brought me back to myself. It will never be for sale.
“I know,” I say, gratefully. “It’s just a busted fence, it’ll mend.”
My phone pings as I look down at it with a message from an unknown number.
Then I realize who it is.
Unknown
Thought you should have my number too, it’s only fair
I stare at the text, my mood lifting. Maybe I could do with a little side action to take my mind off things here. Yeah, that could be exactly what I need. I quickly add him to my contacts.
Diamond
Well hello to you too
Nash
Busy?
Diamond
I’m fixing a fence
Nash
Is everything okay?
Diamond
I’ll tell you later
Nash
Tell me now
Diamond
I’m busy dealing with a situation
Nash
What situation?
Diamond
Someone cut our fenceline
Nash
Holy shit. I’ll be right over
Half an hour later, he does just that, to assess the fence. Of course, we can’t prove anything, but when my dad arrives, he’s fuming.
“This is bullshit,” Dad says before I’ve had the opportunity to introduce him to Nash.
“Tell me about it,” I agree. “It’s intimidation at its finest, but they’re gonna have to come up with something a little more original.”
“Just don’t go in guns blazing,” Nash says. “What they want is for me to arrest you again.”
Dad looks at me. “Again?”
“Long story,” I huff. “Anyway, Dad, this is Sheriff Calloway. Sheriff, this is my dad, Gus.” The two men acknowledge one another, shaking hands.
My dad isn’t like me in the unsociable department.
Don’t get me wrong, he’d cut you if you double-crossed him, but he’s a warm person and loves to chat.
Burt, meanwhile, barks at Dad’s feet, and Nash pats him on the head.
“Nice to have you in town,” Dad remarks. “I hear you’re doing great things already.”
Nash tips his hat. “Appreciate that. I’m getting there slowly. People don’t like too many changes at once around here.”
“What do you make of all this business?” He waves his hand in the air, and I know it’s a test to see where Nash’s loyalties lie.
“Well, I don’t agree with sabotage, if that’s what this is. That fence was deliberately cut in several places. I’ll have a word with Lanzetti, make him aware that I know what happened. I want to see how much he squirms,” Nash says.
I like that answer, and so does my father.
“Are you for or against a big development?” Dad asks, not letting up.
Nash stands his ground. “This town deserves to keep its humble charm. That’s what visitors love about Saddle.
We don’t want to see all the character sucked out of the place.
I moved here because I want to raise my daughter in a tight-knit community.
There are resorts an hour away. We don’t need one in Saddle. ”
Dad nods in approval. “Well, good to have you on board,” he announces, then leans over and kisses me on the cheek. “I’ve got to go, sweetie, I’ll be back tomorrow.”
I give him a smile. “Hot date?”
He rubs his hands together. “Deidre is making me a pie.”
Deidre runs the bakery in town and makes the most amazing pies in the whole of Texas.
I shake my head, trying to fight off the idea of them together. Ew. “That’s already too much information.”
Dad grins. “Nice to meet you, Sheriff Calloway.”
“Please, call me Nash.”
They shake again, and I can tell from Dad’s beaming smile, he likes the man.
We watch him take off, Burt on his heels.
“He seems like a good guy,” Nash says.
“He is,” I agree. “The best. He raised me.”
“That’s why you’re so tough?”
“Something like that.” I pause. “I’ve got fresh coffee inside if you’d like a cup?”
I feel his eyes on me as I watch my father’s retreating figure.
“Diamond Velente is gonna make me coffee?”
I glance at him. “I didn’t say I was going to make it, I asked if you’d like a cup.”
He smirks in that way of his. “There she is.”
I start walking, and he quickly follows suit. “Just because you had my pants down the last time we met, doesn’t mean you know me.”
“I’d say I know you a lot more intimately than I did last week.”
I give him a look. “Wise ass.”
“Admit you’ve been thinking about me.”
“I’m not going to admit shit.”
“Okay, but at least admit you’ve been thinking about what I did to you in the barn.”
My breath hitches.
Is he kidding? It’s all I can think about.
“I’ll admit that you are very good with your mouth and your hands.”
“That almost sounded like a compliment.” He laughs, and I like how the corners of his eyes crinkle when he does it.
“You’re mean, though.”
“Mean?” he asks teasingly. “How so?”
“Because you didn’t let me return the favor.”
Our eyes meet. “Do you want to return the favor?”
“Duh. I’m not a total bitch.”
He shakes his head, exasperation written all over his face. “Well, holy fuck.”
I don’t lead him to the clubhouse. I take him to my place.
“You’re a bad influence,” I whisper.
“Me?” He points to his chest with his thumb. “Why am I the bad influence? I’ve never been arrested.”
“Throw that in my face all you like, but you and I both know Lanzetti was trying to rile me up. If I were him, I would’ve gone with flattery.”
The second the door behind us closes, he pulls me into him. My breath catches as he cups my face. “You want to know the truth?” His words touch me somewhere deep inside.
“Always.”
He presses his forehead to mine. “You’re driving me fucking insane.”
I can feel how hard he is with our bodies so close together. I love that I get him this worked up and hard just by being myself. No foreplay needed with Nash Calloway.
“Speak for yourself, I was left high and dry after that stunt in the barn.”
He cocks a brow. “We both know you were far from dry, princess.”
His lips hover over mine.
“Kiss me,” I beg.
“Thought you’d never ask.” His lips find mine, and it is everything.
Brutal.
Hot.
Dangerous.
It has my pulse racing, and the rest of my body tingling for more. When his tongue slips into my mouth, my body turns to mush. He kisses impeccably, strong and masculine.
My hand snakes down his body, admiring how fucking ripped he is, and I grip his cock. He hisses, deepening the kiss.
Of course, I feel how thick he is through his jeans, and it makes my body shiver.
I want him.
I want this man inside me.
“Are you sure you’re ready for my oral skills?” I taunt when we pull back.
His eyes devour me when he says, “I’ve been waiting for you for a while.”
He’s so sincere, but that can’t be true; he just met me.
Our eyes lock, and the spark between us is there. He feels it, too.
The idea makes me tingle all over. “I’d better make it good then.”