Chapter 16
CHAPTER 16
Men want an angel in public, a mom in the kitchen, and a wildcat in bed. Do NOT get those mixed up. ~ The Lady Elks Secret Archives.
Dawn moved from Melanie’s bright kitchen into the large gathering room, where a fire crackled in a massive stone fireplace near a seven-foot Christmas tree decorated in bright colors. The teapot she carried was vintage, as were most of the furnishings and even the drapes across the wide windows. The entire effect was country, homey, and comfortable.
The snowstorm had finally stopped, and the sun shone down to reflect off snowy fields.
Dawn refilled Melanie’s teacup and tried to smile. “Why are men such dumb-asses?”
Melanie shrugged and sipped her tea, sitting back on a muted suede sofa that added a calmness to the woodsy living room. “I think it’s something in the excess testosterone.” She stretched her feet out on a matching ottoman. “I could be wrong.”
Dawn snorted and placed the pot on a wide serving tray her mom had given Melanie for a wedding present. “I think you’re right. How are you feeling, anyway?”
Mel rubbed her huge belly. “Fantastic, in an I swallowed volleyballs kind of way. Excited for the babies to get here.”
Dawn sat. “Why haven’t you had the ultrasound to find out the sexes? I want to go shopping.”
“I like surprises.” Mel chuckled, her brown eyes laughing. “Colton does not. Therefore I won.” She set down her cup and shoved curls off her forehead. “So. I guess it’s time we talked about Hawk, right? How are things?”
“Crazy. He’s pissed that Reese was hurt, and I’m not liking the pressure from all around. That just because we started dating, it means forever.” Dawn took a sip and scalded her tongue.
Mel nodded. “Yeah, but with you and Hawk, didn’t you figure on forever?”
“Yes.” Dawn lifted a shoulder and set down the offending mug. “I’ve known Hawk my whole life, but I didn’t really know him, know him. You know?”
Melanie lifted an eyebrow. “Sister, I’m one of the few people alive who actually would understand and agree with that statement. Colt and I were friends forever, but when we, ah, you know, things totally changed. He totally changed.”
“Exactly.” Dawn leaned forward, her breath rushing out. “Hawk’s always been a sweetie, not a chauvinistic dick who ordered everyone around. Sure, some of that’s from the military, but the other part? That’s just because we bumped uglies and now his main goal in life is to keep me from getting shot.”
“I have to be honest in that I think that’s a good goal.” Melanie blew on her tea. “However, I agree about the bossiness. That can’t be allowed to continue. Getting your brother to back off was tough.”
Dawn swallowed a grin. Colton hadn’t backed off. Not a bit. In fact, he was even more protective since Melanie had gotten pregnant.
“Shut up,” Mel said without much heat.
“Didn’t say a word.” Dawn reached for her cup again.
The front door burst open, and she jumped. Colton stomped inside with Hawk on his heels. She half rose.
Colton reached his wife and planted a hard kiss on her lips.
Dawn faltered and then sat down. “Um?—”
The trill of sirens, somehow angry, violated the quiet winter morning. Oh no. Dawn stilled, and her stomach dropped.
A truck roared to a stop, heavy boot steps clanged on the stairs, and then Quinn Lodge stood inside the room, a swell of anger cascading from him and heating Dawn’s lungs.
His hard gaze took in both Hawk and Colton. “Out. Side.”
Another truck came to a stop in the driveway, and everyone paused. Seconds later, Jake Lodge strode through the doorway. “What the holy fuck of a holy fuckup of a fuck were you two fucking fuck-ups fucking doing?” he yelled.
Melanie snorted and dropped her face to her cup, her shoulders shaking with laughter.
Dawn’s mouth opened and shut, but she couldn’t find words.
Colton turned toward his oldest brother and instantly took a square-on punch to the jaw from Jake. He fell into Hawk, who righted him. Then Colt lunged for Jake.
Hawk slipped in front of Colton, and Quinn punched hard and fast. Hawk flew back into Colton and then sprang forward and into the sheriff.
Melanie stood, holding her stomach. “Knock it off. Now.”
All four men froze.
Hysteria bubbled through Dawn, and she gulped it down.
Quinn recovered first. “Hawk Rain and Colton Freeze. You have the right to remain silent?—”
Jake faced off with the sheriff. “Probable cause?” he barked.
Quinn turned toward Jake, fury darkening his rugged cheekbones. “Seriously?”
“Wait a minute.” Hawk tried to step between them. “You two don’t fight.”
“Shut up,” they said in unison.
Jake stepped into Quinn’s face, both of them tall, broad, dark, and furious. “Listen, sheriff. I want nothing better than to beat the crap out of these two, and don’t think I won’t, but you don’t have probable cause for an arrest.”
Quinn shifted until they were nose to nose. “I do. I have these two morons on camera entering the hospital, and Colton witnessing whoever knocked out my deputy. So feel free to follow me to the station, counselor.”
“They could’ve been visiting anybody, and that’s not probable cause,” Jake shot back.
Dawn swallowed, and her arms trembled. Anger. Way too much of it surrounded them. She shuffled to her feet. “Can we just talk about this? ”
Colton reached for his wife to settle her back in the chair. “Listen. This is what happened?—”
Jake whirled on him in unison with Quinn. “Shut up,” they both growled.
Dawn would’ve laughed had it not been so scary. “I, ah…”
Hawk’s head pivoted, and he silenced her with one hard look. “You know absolutely nothing and have nothing to add.”
Quinn sighed. “I agree. Now you two dipshits get your butts in the back of my rig. We have to sort this out at the station, away from Dawn and Melanie, because none of this touches them.”
The door pushed open, and Reese Johnson leaned against the doorframe, a hospital gown barely covering him, big fur-lined black boots up to his knees.
“Reese?” Quinn breathed, catching his tall friend before he hit the floor. “How?”
Reese smiled wanly and allowed Quinn to help him inside the room. “I, ah, may have borrowed a car from the hospital.” He shook snow out of his dark hair. Bruises covered his face, and bandages blanketed his muscled arms. “I thought I should let you know that Colton and Hawk visited me at the hospital. Hawk stayed with me the entire time. All morning. Just in case a camera caught them coming into and then leaving the hospital.”
“You’ve lost your mind.” Quinn grabbed a blanket to toss on his friend. “You’re providing an alibi for these two morons?”
“Yes.” Reese leaned back with a tired groan. “I heard a deputy was choked unconscious, and I also heard he didn’t see who did it. But my former employee, the one being guarded, hasn’t had anything to say, so we just don’t know who went inside to chat with him.”
Quinn growled. “I know he hasn’t talked, because I tried to get him to talk. Seemed a bit scared.”
Reese shrugged and then winced. “Yes.”
“The deputy was talking to Colton when he was choked out,” Quinn hissed.
Jake shook his head at his youngest brother. “My client didn’t recognize the guy who choked out your deputy, and he has nothing to say to you. The fifth and all that.”
Somehow, although it seemed impossible, Quinn’s anger swelled hotter and higher. “This is not okay,” he snapped through gritted teeth.
“Totally agree,” Jake said, cutting a hard look at Colton and Hawk. “The law isn’t going to deal with these two.”
Quinn smiled then, and it wasn’t pretty. Not by a long shot. “That would leave us, then.”
“Yes.” Jake nodded. “Now, Sheriff Lodge, since you lack probable cause to arrest my bonehead clients, I ask that you leave us alone to talk.”
Quinn’s chin lowered.
Jake’s lifted. “You’re the sheriff, Quinn. You have to go.”
“You can’t be here, either,” Colton said quietly.
Jake leveled him with a look. “I’m under an obligation, as an officer of the court, to report any bodily harm crime one of my clients is planning to undertake. Since I don’t have a client about to break any law, I can be here. Got it?”
Both Colton and Hawk held firm, their expressions not giving an inch.
Reese cleared his throat, his gaze on Hawk. “My men have intel, or they will soon, about a drug storage facility outside of Wyoming. When they get the info, I need to go in and finish the organization. Even if Meyer is long gone, we can hurt him by dismantling everything he has built. You in?”
Hawk stilled. “Yes.”
A muscle pounded in Quinn’s jaw. “Reese? I have no doubt you haven’t been released from the hospital. Get up, and I’ll take you back.” Quinn eyed Jake. “If you get any news, if anybody goes anywhere, I expect a phone call.” He turned to Hawk. “Let Reese’s men handle Meyer. He’s probably out of the country, and you can just stay here.”
“Yes, sheriff,” Hawk drawled.
Melanie cleared her throat. “Ah, Reese? It’s nice to see you here in Maverick County.”
Reese grinned. “Thank you.”
She rubbed her belly, her gaze going from the serious brothers to Reese. “Doesn’t he fit right in?”
Reese chuckled. “I am not moving to Maverick County.”
“Famous last words,” Melanie said with a smile.
Jake clapped Quinn on the shoulder. “Give Dad a call, Quinn. He’s probably heard about everything and will be heading this way if we don’t reassure him.”
“Fine.” Quinn glanced at Dawn. “She stays out of it. Any of it.”
“My word.” Hawk’s posture straightened. He and Quinn shared some man-look that did nothing but irritate Dawn, but enough was enough, and she kept quiet for the moment.
Reese met Quinn at the door, and Quinn swung under his friend’s arm to help him to the car. “You’re as dumb as the rest of them,” Quinn could be heard grumbling before the front door closed.
Jake turned to eye Colton and Hawk. “Well? Where’s Meyer and does he know Hawk lives here?”
Dawn paced by the fireplace, her mind spinning, her stomach lurching. The guys had left shortly after noon, and they hadn’t called through dinner or even after. It was almost ten at night, and having no word from them was about to kill her.
Melanie sat behind her, quietly contemplating the crackling fire.
“How can they still be at the sheriff’s station running down leads?” Dawn muttered for at least the tenth time.
Melanie shrugged, appearing calm, but lines cut into the sides of her mouth.
A knock sounded on the door, and Dawn hustled to open it. She stood to the side—okay, so maybe some of Hawk’s wariness was rubbing off on her—and checked the peephole. On the porch stood one of Hawk’s ranch hands, loaded for bear, along with Mrs. Hudson and Mrs. Poppins. She undid the locks and dragged open the storm door.
“Oh my. Men with guns,” Mrs. Poppins twittered, pushing inside, a crinkling brown bag in her hands. Her track outfit was lime green with orange sparkles, and even her puffy white coat had been bedazzled down one arm. “We had Kurt drop us off on his way home from making coffee.”
Dawn helped Mrs. Hudson, who glittered even more than Mrs. Poppins, inside before nodding to the ranch hand. His lips twitched, but he closed the door .
“Let me take your coats,” Dawn said, manners drummed into her from day one. She took both jackets and hung them on hooks by the door. Mrs. Hudson set down a big bag in order to hand over the coat, and then picked it back up. “How is Mr. Bullton?”
“Stubborn as a bull.” Mrs. Hudson smiled widely. “But he gets to come home tomorrow. I may, ah, stay over and help him to recuperate.”
Dawn hid a smile. “That would be mighty nice of you.”
Melanie struggled to reach her feet. “May I offer you ladies some tea or cookies?”
“No.” Mrs. Hudson waved Melanie back down. “You sit, dear. The babies will be here soon, and you’ll forget how nice it is to sit.” She turned, a glimmering vision of vibrant purple. “We brought some gifts for Dawn.”
Dawn swallowed and waited until the ladies had taken seats before sitting. They’d probably brought more food. “I can’t give Hawk food and pretend I made it.” If nothing else, the guy knew her cooking.
Mrs. Poppins sadly shook her head. “Oh, honey. We’re past the rule about trying to get to his heart through his stomach.”
Mrs. Hudson set down her bag and cleared her throat. “Nearly killing him took the bloom off that rose.”
Melanie coughed. “Um, what’s going on?”
Mrs. Poppins swung toward her. “Dawn hasn’t told you about our plan?”
Mel cut her a look and then shook her head. “Ah, no.”
Mrs. Poppins twittered and dug in her shiny jean purse to draw out a photograph. “We stitched this pillow for Dawnie so she’d know how to get a man. More specifically, Hawk. It’s time that boy settled down.”
Melanie took the picture and read. She pressed her lips together. Tight.
Dawn breathed in evenly through her nose, trying to avoid panicking. If Melanie laughed, Dawn would join in, and she wouldn’t be able to stop. “I’ve broken almost all the rules,” Dawn said, trying to keep the laughter at bay.
Melanie smiled, her body shaking just enough. “You’ve broken them all.”
“Not the last one,” Mrs. Hudson countered. “You can still give him control and then chase him ’til he catches you. Trust us.” Her bony fingers wrapped around the brown bag.
Dawn stilled. “Um.”
Mrs. Poppins stared out from coke-bottle glasses. “Now, a good sex life is nothing to be ashamed of, Dawn Freeze. Even if you did start too early with Hawk and not wait for the ring. We can fix this.”
“We surely can.” Mrs. Hudson reached into her bag and drew out some bright red straps with a harrumphing flourish. “These are, um, restraints.” She peered closer to read a tag on one end. “I think they go under the bed and have cuffs.”
Melanie lost it. Holding her belly, she threw back her head, and her entire body gyrated with laughter.
Dawn’s mouth dropped open, and she started to pant. This wasn’t happening.
Mrs. Poppins frowned and squinted. “Surely you’ve read current romance novels, dear.”
Dawn slowly shook her head. “No, ma’am. Not lately.” The straps were red and looked strong.
Mrs. Hudson placed them on the couch and reached into the bag again.
Dawn couldn’t help it. She leaned forward, morbid curiosity propelling her. “Where did you ladies get this stuff?”
“Sex shop north of Billings,” Mrs. Poppins said, smiling when Mrs. Hudson brought out a large, black, bulbous looking thing. “Now that’s kinky.”
Dawn frowned. “What is that?”
“Butt plug,” Mrs. Hudson said.
Melanie’s laughter increased so hard she shook the entire couch. Pillows fell to the floor.
Dawn’s ass clenched. “Oh, not a chance.” No way would that fit in somebody’s butt. “That’s crazy.”
Mrs. Hudson held the bulb up and frowned. “Maybe you’re supposed to start with a smaller size.”
“Oh God, oh God, oh God.” Tears actually coursed down Melanie’s face.
Dawn cut her a hard look. “I can’t, I mean, this is, I, ah?—”
Mrs. Poppins pulled out a paddle. Bright green with hearts cut into it, the word SPANK ran down one side. “This looked kinda pretty.”
Dawn sat back, her mind spinning. Melanie slapped a hand over her mouth but continued to snortle over it.
Mrs. Poppins whacked the paddle against her brown-spotted hand, and Dawn jumped. “This could do some damage.” The elderly lady squinted toward Dawn. “Do you think Hawk knows how to spank a girl? We wouldn’t want him to hurt you.”
This wasn’t happening. It really wasn’t.
Mrs. Hudson smacked Mrs. Poppins on the arm. “Of course Hawk knows how to spank a girl. I mean, it’s Hawk .” She arched white eyebrows. “Right, Dawn?”
Dawn made a strangled sound. Heat flared into her cheeks, and her eyes actually stung. “I can’t believe this.”
Mrs. Hudson pulled out a plastic covered package. “This is a pocket rocket. Now, it’s for clitoral stimulation.” She nodded solemnly. “That’s important, you know.”
Dawn dropped her head to her hands. “Kill me. Just kill me.”
A knock sounded on the door. “Melanie, it’s Quinn.” His deep baritone wound through the night.
Panic ripped through Dawn, and she lunged for the bags, shoving everything inside them. No way could Quinn, her older brother, see this stuff.
The elderly ladies helped her pack up, twittering anxiously.
Melanie snorted. “Throw the bags in the guest room. Hurry.”
Dawn ran into the room to toss the bags on the other side of the bed. She returned just in time to see Quinn stomp inside. “Hi,” she said.
“I got notice from one of Hawk’s men that Mrs. Hudson and Mrs. Poppins were visiting. I’m here to take them home.” He frowned, studying his sister. “You okay? You’re flushed.”
Yep. She could die just right there.