Love Me Like You Do: Books That Keep You In Bed

by Fields, MJ

  “Thank you, I would like to think I made him happy and that one day we can be friends, he is a good man and a great father.”

  “You must hate us so much.”

  “No, I don’t. Do I think you could have gone about dealing with the situation better, yes. But you’re hurting. There is no timestamp on grief. It will get easier to accept people in Ryan and Callie’s lives eventually, but please, just remember they aren’t replacing Deirdre in their family, they are adding someone to their family.”

  “I saw Callie, we were losing her to you. She was preferring you over us. I could see it, every day she would forget my daughter a little more. Eventually she wouldn’t even know who her mother was.”

  “Ryan has Deirdre’s pictures in the house, Callie totally knows who her mother is. She was two when Deirdre passed, so her memories are what you tell her and what she sees in photos. Ryan understands this so he keeps photos of her everywhere in Callie’s room. He’s a good father, he loved your daughter, and you need to trust him to do right by your granddaughter or you’re going to have a lot of regrets in your life.”

  “You’re very understanding for someone so young.” Louise reached out to me, I placed my hand in hers.

  “I see a lot of bad every single day. It’s better to be understanding than to sever those relationships that you may never get back.”

  Sonya stared at me. If her eyes had been lasers, they would have burned a hole right through me. “You don’t feel anything for him anymore?”

  “That’s not true, but I’m a survivalist. I do what I have to do to survive, starting with not allowing myself to continually get hurt.” I chuckled without an ounce of mirth. “Give the next person a chance, will you? For Ryan’s sake, he deserves to be happy.”

  “Nothing? No love, no anything?” Sonya didn’t blink and she wasn’t letting it drop. She was watching for the slightest tell in my gestures.

  “I’m not saying that we didn’t have something or that more wasn’t a possibility. I’m saying that whatever we had wasn’t strong enough to withstand this hurricane. Listen, I’m going to let the two of you get some rest.”

  “Thank you so much, Sadie.”

  “You’re welcome. I wish you both the best.”

  “Sadie?” I turned to face Louise. “You fell in love with him, didn’t you?”

  My eyes began to burn. I needed to get out of here. “No. People don’t fall in love that quick, it takes time, years.”

  “I married my husband after knowing him for six weeks and have been married to him for thirty-eight years. I guess you’re right, though, people don’t fall in love that fast.” Louise gave me a half-smile.

  “Maybe I could have been, but it’s a moot point now. He’s moved on.”

  Twenty-Nine

  Ryan

  Callie held on to one hand, and I held her backpack in the other as we headed to my car. Ever since Sadie and I had slowed down our relationship, something in Callie changed.

  “You want to go to Kidz Klub?”

  “Not today, Sadie only works on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.”

  Speaking of Sadie, I scanned the school for her, and was sad when I didn’t see her. I needed to find a way, something to break the tension between us. When my phone started buzzing, I wondered if this was my chance. That was until I saw the name on the caller ID. I cringed and debated whether to answer it, then finally decided that he hadn’t done anything to me, well . . . anything that I knew of.

  “Hey, Fred.”

  “Where are you, are you at the hospital?”

  “No. What’s wrong?”

  “Your deputy called to tell me that Louise and Sonya had been in a car wreck. I’m on my way back from Jacksonville right now.”

  “Are they okay?”

  “It sounds like they’re banged up but going to be okay.”

  “Callie and I will head up now. I’ll call you as soon as I read their charts.”

  “Thank you.”

  We disconnected, and I hustled Callie to the car. “What’s wrong, Daddy?”

  “We’re going to go see Grammy and Aunt Sonya, they aren’t feeling well.” I opened the back door and quickly got her buckled in before jumping in front and starting the engine. I wasted no time in flooring it.

  “I have to go pee.”

  “You can go when we get to the hospital.” I dialed my backline to the hospital and waited for someone to pick up.

  “Florida Hospital, how may I direct your call?”

  “This is Dr. Montgomery, my mother-in-law and sister-in-law were brought in, they were in a car accident.”

  “This is Kasey, Polly recognized them, Dr. Montgomery. They are both fine, Sonya needs surgery on her ulna, and Louise has a contusion on the brain. We’ve moved her to observation for twenty-four hours. Sonya is in her room until an orthopedist can see her.”

  “Which observation room?” Kasey gave me the number and I ended the call.

  Callie was quiet in the back seat and without music blaring, I had nothing to distract me from how Fred had said my deputy. He must have been confused or meant my county, not Sadie. But I still couldn’t get them out of my mind.

  It took me less than fifteen minutes to get there, and another five before I was stepping off the elevator.

  “Daddy, I’ve got to go pee.” I glanced down to Callie, who was shifting from side to side. Yup, I’d pushed her too far.

  “Okay, right there is a restroom. I’ll wait here.” I watched Callie disappear and then a familiar voice caught my attention.

  It was wrong, I knew it, but I couldn’t help myself from listening to Sadie talk to Louise and Sonya. I guessed Fred was right when he called her my deputy. I leaned closer, trying to hear what she was saying. They were talking about love. Was Sadie in love with me?

  “I’m not saying that we didn’t have something or that more wasn’t a possibility. I’m saying that whatever we had wasn’t strong enough to withstand this hurricane.”

  I kept looking down the hall watching for Callie, hoping that she would be slow enough that I could hear more. It was terrible, I was a terrible person to eavesdrop, but I wanted to hear her answer.

  “Maybe I could have been, but it’s a moot point now. He’s moved on.”

  For the first time in weeks, I felt the knot in my shoulders relax. She was wrong. I hadn’t moved on. “Okay, Daddy.” Callie was standing next to me.

  “Did you wash your hands?” She touched me with wet hands as her answer.

  “Okay, let’s go see Grammy and Aunt Sonya to make sure that they are okay.”

  “All right.” Callie made an O with her index and thumb.

  Pushing the door the rest of the way open, I let Callie run to her grammy as I stood frozen, eyes locked on this beautiful woman who I was absolutely falling in love with.

  “I was just leaving.” She took a step toward the door. Snaking one arm out, I wrapped it around her and pulled her against me. “Spend time with your family.”

  “You’re our family, too . . .” Sonya’s words were slow to drop off, but they hung heavy in the silence that blanketed the room. I couldn’t have told you whether a cannon blast or the sound of a pin dropping would have been louder. “At least in Callie’s eyes, and since she’s our family, that is what matters to us. Right, Mom?” Sonya glanced over, waiting for Louise to answer.

  “I just so happen to have room to love another daughter.”

  Callie was tugging on Sadie’s hand. “Don’t go. I haven’t seen you in so long. Please don’t go.”

  “I need to step out and call my lieutenant. I have an order, and if I don’t follow it, it would mean my career. Give me a second?” Sadie stared at me.

  “Callie, why don’t you stay here with Grammy and Aunt Sonya so I can take Sadie to my office to make her call.”

  “Okay. Promise not to leave, Sadie.”

  “I promise that I won’t leave without telling you.”

  I glanced back at the two people who, just days ago,
had been bitter but seemed to have changed, and then guided Sadie out. I refused to take my hand away. I held hers in mine.

  “Thank you.” I locked eyes with her. “I’m so happy to see you. I’ve been working, dealing with an attorney, DCF, and a judge.”

  “I know.”

  “Of course you do, you’ve been dealing with all of it as well. I’m sorry for excuses.”

  I opened my office door and stepped aside for Sadie to walk in. Once the door was closed, I rested against the solid panel, took a deep breath, and then slowly took one step forward. Sadie mirrored my movement and stepped backward.

  “God, I’ve missed you.” My voice was a low, aching whisper. I took another step, and this time when Sadie mirrored my movement, her backside hit the edge of my desk, she wasn’t going any farther. “I’ve been aching to see you”—I took another step—“talk to you”—another step—“touch you.” We were face-to-face; I could feel the way her breathing was ragged just like mine. “Please tell me that there’s hope for us. I’ll prove to you that I’m worth giving another chance to.”

  Sadie wiggled her eyebrows. Holding a bemused smile, she said somewhat raspy, “You think so, huh?”

  “Absolutely, I can prove it to you . . . starting now.” Lowering my mouth to hers, I inhaled the taste, the sweetness that I’d missed this past week.

  Sadie let out a long chuckle as she pulled back a bit. “You’ve proven your point.” Her palm stroked down my chest and stopped on the front of my pants.

  “Not here, there’s barely any room. I need you, but I need to spread you out so I can have my way with you.”

  “Can you bring home some medical supplies so we can play doctor?”

  “Don’t need them, I already have a tongue depressor.” I started laughing at my lame ass joke. Then Sadie joined me. “Oh my god, I’m sorry. That was so cliché.”

  “It’s okay, next time we can play good cop, bad cop with handcuffs.” Sadie patted her utility belt where the cuffs hung.

  “We’re going to have so much fun with our careers, aren’t we?”

  “Yep, if I have anything to do with it.” Sadie stretched up and kissed me again. “Now, I really have to make this call.”

  I stood back and waited. As she talked, the smile on her face got wider and wider. When she hung up, she was practically bouncing. “Back on normal duty.” Sweeping her into my arms I peered down at her. I’d forgotten what this felt like, this pure happiness. It had been so long, but I had found it and didn’t want to let it go.

  “Let’s go tell Callie, I think she was about to stage a coup if you weren’t back soon.”

  * * *

  “Yes, she’s right here.” Callie handed the phone over to Sadie. “It’s Aunt Sonya. She has a question about Bananas.”

  Sadie took the phone as Callie turned to me. “Doesn’t Aunt Sonya know what bananas are, why does she have to ask?” I laughed. This whole change in everyone had been great, and on Sunday, Sonya was going to Bananas tabernacle breakfast with Sadie and her wild friends.

  “I’ll pick you up at eight. Jeans are fine.” Mirth swam in Sadie’s eyes as she glanced at me. “This is going to be good for you, you will meet a lot of people our age. It is innocent fun, but you will laugh your ass—”

  “Ooo!” Callie threw her hands over her mouth.

  I could hear Sonya laughing over the phone.

  “Ugh, I will get used to this, I promise. Anyway, you will laugh a lot. Okay, see you then.” She handed Callie back her phone and Callie strode off jabbering away. “Sorry, I’m trying, it’s just this mouth has a mind of its own.”

  “Funny thing, I know something else that has a mind of its own and it loves your mouth.”

  “Perv.”

  “But you love it.”

  “Yeah, I think that I do.”

  “Good, I love you, too, Sadie.”

  Epilogue

  Sadie

  “Will you get off the phone?” Polly asked for the tenth time. “Can you please make your wife get off the phone?”

  Ryan cracked up laughing. “I can’t make her do anything.”

  “Hold on one second.” I lowered the phone and placed a hand over the speaker. “Holy shittttt, that one hurt.” I took several deep breaths and then began talking into the phone again. “No. I want the black Tahoe.”

  “Mrs. Montgomery, would you like to call us back later at a more convenient time?”

  “No, it’s fine.”

  “I think that I should let you go.”

  “Don’t you dare hang up. I need that Tahoe. I’m not a Porsche person, I don’t want to drive a Porsche, and since Harley doesn’t make an SUV, I need this one. My bank is ready to send you the money. I’ve already been pre-approved. I just need the vehicle. Hold on.” I covered the speaker. “Fuck, that one was bad.”

  “Will you get off the damn phone? You’re dilated to seven centimeters.”

  Speaking back into the phone, I snapped, “Last chance, are we doing this or not?”

  “Fine. It will be at your home tomorrow. Would you like a bow on it?”

  “No fucking bows.” I disconnected and then turned to my husband, who was shaking his head. “Let’s get this kid out of me.”

  “I love you, you know that, right?”

  “Of course.”

  “Would you like some drugs now? The anesthesiologist is waiting.”

  “God, yes, get her in here.”

  I had no clue why everyone was freaking out so much about the car. I’d read all the pamphlets the doctor had sent home with me; I knew that this kid could still take about ten hours before she graced us with her screaming face.

  Once the anesthesiologist came in and gave me the good shit, I relaxed and obviously so did my body. I relaxed so much that, before I knew it, I was holding one red, blotchy faced, wailing baby girl. I wailed back and she quieted. I’ll have to remember that trick. Maybe motherhood won’t be so hard.

  We thought long and hard about what to name her, and since we already had a Callie girl and people always thought her name was California, we decided to go with Georgia so we would have a Georgia girl as well.

  My hospital room door flew open. Holding one of Georgia’s tiny hands, I whispered, “Georgia girl, you are going to be so spoiled just like your big sister. You have three sets of grandparents. That is your nana, your mimi, and your grammy.”

  I glanced up at my gorgeous husband as he lowered his head to mine. “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “For bringing all three families together. You didn’t have to, but you’re so good and kind. I love you.”

  “Remember those words the next time you get angry at me, okay?” Ryan kissed me and I knew that being a wife and a mom was going to totally ruin my tough-girl persona.

  ____________

  Fighting to be seen as a grown-up to her childhood crush, female deputy Bridget makes some life endangering decisions. Get her story in Bridget, Federal Protection. Tap on the title to purchase or Read for FREE with your Kindle Unlimited membership.

  Continue flipping the pages in this book for a sneak peek of Bridget, Federal Protection and to find a list of all of my books including those included in Kindle Unlimited.

  Coming Soon

  Kat, Knight Watch - 04/07/2020

  Kat joins Sadie, Bridget, Piper, and the gang of motorcycle deputies in their quest to keep the streets of Orange County safe. Tap on the title to preorder your copy today.

  Vivian, Midnight Call Girl - 06/02/2020

  Vivian gets her book! Many of you have asked to read her story when you fell in love with the ladies of the Iron Orchids, so here she is. Tap on the title to preorder your copy today.

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  Suggested Reading Order

  Original Iron Orchids, Books 1 through 6

  Tap the links to find each title

  Ariel, Always Enough - Book 1

  So
phie, Almost Mine - Book 2

  Katy, My Impact - Book 3

  Leo, Kiss Often - Book 4

  Stella, Until You - Book 5

  Christine, The Stars - Book 6

  Iron Orchids—Badges Series, Books 7 through 11

  You met some of them in the Iron Orchids. Now these women motorcycle officers will ride into your heart.

  Badges Prequel - Book 7

  Sadie, Doctor Accident - Book 8

  Bridget, Federal Protection - Book 9

  Piper, Unlikely Outlaw - Book 10

  Kat, Knight Watch - Book 11 (April 7, 2020)

  Iron Ladies, Books 1 and 2

  A whisper network of women. Women who help the wives of controlling men. You don’t want to cross these ladies.

  Adeline, Getting Even - Book 1

  Sunday, Sweet Vengeance - Book 2

  Iron Horse, Books 1 through 3

  The love stories of three sisters who struggle to run a cattle ranch and to prove the strongest cowboys can be a girl.

  London, Is Falling - Book 1

  Paris, In Love - Book 2

  Holland, At War - Book 3

  A Word From Danielle

  Thank you for picking up my book. It doesn’t matter whether you have read one book of ten written by me, they all have some commonalities to them:

  Strong women with attitude.