by Ciana Stone
The twins looked at one another and Jo once more wondered what silent communication was taking place. Since she'd been here, she might not have spent much time with JD but she'd spent quite a bit of time with his sons and one thing she'd observed was that they seemed to have a form of communication composed of looks and gestures.
"Okay, spit it out. I know you have something to say."
Dawson inclined his head to the left and Briggs shrugged. "Okay. So, what about dad?"
"Your dad?"
"Yeah."
"What about him?"
This time it was she who understand the expression. They knew. She didn't know how, but they knew.
"You and dad have something going on don't you?"
Jo looked from Briggs to Dawson. "We're friends."
Dawson made a noise with his lips that spelled his disbelief. "We're not kids, Jo. We know what it means when people look at each other the way you and dad do."
Jo sat down on the stairs. "I like your dad."
"Like as in want to go fishing with him or like as in want to date?"
"Just like."
"I thought you said being honest was the most important thing of all?"
Nailed. She remembered saying that to them. "Okay fine, I like him. Like as in I'd like him to ask me on a date. Happy?"
Their grins said they were. "So why hasn't he?"
"I don't know. You'd have to ask him."
"I guess we will." Dawson said. "Okay, so we're cool with you staying with Cody on one condition."
"Only one? Wow, and here I thought we had something special. So what's the condition?"
"That you invite us over at least once a week."
"That's a given. I couldn't go a week without seeing your handsome faces."
They laughed and Briggs extended his hand to her. She took it and he pulled her into a hug. "I'll get him to ask you out."
She hugged him tight then released him and hugged Dawson. "Okay, how 'bout you hunks carry my stuff out to the car for me?"
They grabbed her luggage and all three headed out to her rental car. Just as she was opening the driver's door, JD pulled up behind her and got out of his truck.
"Where you headed?"
"I'm meeting Annie at the library and then headed to Cody's."
"With suitcases?"
Her eyes darted from him to the boys and back to him. "It will take me about six months to do all the projects I have lined up here so the network is springing for me to rent a place. Since there's not really anything available, I'm going to stay with Cody."
"You do know that once the bar is finished she'll be there most nights? Jayce and Bryson are almost finished with the roughing in."
"Yes. But – “
"The police still haven't found that guy."
"I'm aware, but I'll be fine. Chances are the guy is long gone."
"Or biding his time."
"I'll be okay, JD."
"Boys." He looked at his sons. "Jo and I need to have a word."
"Sure dad." Dawson agreed.
"Yeah, right, we were headed over to the school for practice anyway." Briggs added and looked at Jo. "See ya later, Jo."
"Yes sir. See ya."
JD waited for the boys to leave. "Jo, I don't know that it's smart for you to stay with Cody. You'll be alone a lot at night and if he finds out—"
"I'll be okay, JD." She reached out to put her hand on his arm. "And there's nothing stopping you from checking on me if you're worried."
He cocked one eyebrow and she smiled. "It might be nice to have a little privacy don't you think?"
The smile he gave her warmed more than her heart. "Well, when you put it that way." He grasp her hand to pull her to him. "I'm going to talk to the boys when they get home and tell them."
"About us?"
"Yeah."
She considered it for only a moment. "JD you're not going to tell them about – you know, before?"
"No. It's not time for that conversation. However, I am going to tell them we're seeing each other. If that's okay with you."
"You can shout that from the bell tower and it'd be okay with me."
He chuckled. "I don't think we have one of those in Cotton Creek."
"Oh, well in that case, just tell Nellie Mae. Same effect."
His kiss started out soft and gentle, but within seconds passion kicked in. Jo could have stood there all day kissing him. Well, maybe not. Even now her mind was conjuring up all sorts of things she'd like to do with him.
He was the first to pull away. "You're killing me."
"You don't know the half of it." She moved out of his arms. "Okay, time to get moving. Call me after you talk to the boys, or I'll call you when I get to Cody's."
"I will and don't forget. I know how it is with you two. You'll get to yakking and--."
"I won't forget. And I've gotta go meet Annie. Oh, and by the way, your boys are way smarter than anyone gives them credit for."
"What does that mean?"
"You'll see." She climbed in the car.
"Jo."
"Talk to you later."
He blew out his breath. "Okay, don't forget."
"Never. Now, will you move your truck so I can get out?"
"Yep."
Once she was on the road, she thought about the man who'd abducted her. She wasn't as comfortable with the situation as she let on. If he was part of the Willis family, then why didn't he show up in any of the information? Why had he claimed to be a brother? In addition, why wait until now to seek revenge.
She tried to push that to the back of her mind. The guy had probably left town. And she would be safe at Cody's. Everything would be okay.
*****
Jolene pulled up at Cody's and turned off the car. Cody's truck wasn't there. She pulled out her phone and called Cody. "Hey! I'm at your place.”
"Hey, Jo. Sorry, I got tied up but I'm sending someone with the key -- and the beer. I'm going to be stuck here for a while so I'll crash at Mom's and I'll see you in the morning. Sorry to do this your first night but – you know."
"Oh, no, don't apologize, I completely understand. And I can always go back to Nellie Mae's for the night."
"No! I mean, no, like I said keys and beer are on the way."
"Okay. Thanks, Cody. Oh, is there a particular room I can use?"
"The biggest one upstairs – the one that looks out over the front of the house. I sleep in the downstairs bedroom."
"Got it. Thanks again."
"You bet. See ya."
Jolene shoved her phone into her pocket and looked out of the side window. That's when she saw it. A white pickup truck headed toward the house, kicking up dust behind it. She grinned and climbed out of the car.
The truck came to a stop amid a cloud of dust. The door opened and JD climbed out with a twelve-pack of beer in one hand and dangling a set of keys from the other. Jolene leaned against the car, admiring the sight of JD walking to her.
"Hey beautiful. I understand you could use some help getting into the house?"
"Why yes I could."
"Then you're in luck." His smile wore no overtones of bitterness, a sight that touched her as much as his nearness inflamed her senses.
"Hmmm, that's depends."
"On?"
"On what you're gonna do once you let me in the house?"
"Well, let's go in and find out."
She grinned and reached inside the car for the bag of food and her messenger bag, then fell in step with him to the door. JD unlocked it and gestured her inside. Jolene carried the food to the kitchen, placed it and her messenger bag on the counter, and then hopped up to take a seat on the countertop as JD put the beer in the refrigerator.
He turned and looked at her and this time there was no smile on his face. The expression that was there had her breath catching in her throat. JD took off his hat and put it on the counter as he walked to her. He stopped in front of her, took hold of her knees, spread her legs, and moved between them.<
br />
Jolene looked up at him as he leaned in toward her. "Hungry?"
"Starving." He moved her hair away from her neck, letting his lips caress her skin.
"Want me to warm up the dinner?"
"Nope." His lips moved to her ear, teeth nipping at the lobe.
"Want a beer?"
"Huh uh."
"Then what?"
He pulled back and his gaze met hers as his hands started a trek beginning at her knees. They stroked beneath the skirt she wore, over her thighs and to her hips. A sexy smile came on his face as his fingers hooked around each side of her underwear.
With a swift tug, the thin elastic straps gave way. His hands moved beneath her to lift her up. Jolene wrapped her legs around him as he turned. Three steps and he reached the kitchen table. He kicked a chair out of the way and lay her back on the table.
He tugged at her skirt, working it down her hips and legs and then tossing it aside. His gaze moved over her body and then up to meet her eyes. One sexy smile later, he lowered his head, working his way up one thigh. Jolene gasped, fingers clawing for purchase in the wood as his mouth closed on her sex. She didn’t' last a minute before her body quaked under the force of the orgasm.
She pushed herself up, reaching for his belt. JD lowered his lips to hers, helping her with his pants. Still locked in the kiss, she shoved his pants down his legs and reached between them to take him in hand and guide him.
Jo couldn't suppress the groan as he filled her. JD pushed her back down on the table and she arched against him. "JD."
Until that moment, he intended to go slow, to show her that this was not just lust. But the sight of her lying there, her hair spilling like black silk across the wood, looking at him with that expression that said she wanted him more than anything wiped intent from him, leaving only need.
JD lost himself, forgot the past, gave no thought to the future and sank into the now. Now there was only her. What started in the kitchen moved to the living room couch, and then the floor. The light faded and twilight sent the room into shadows broken only by weak shafts of light through the window.
Her soft moans, his name whispered like a mantra was all that existed. When he rolled over on his back and she straddled him, Jolene sat up, raking her hair on top of her head and holding it as she undulated on him.
He'd never seen anything so sexy in his life. Her face wore an expression of rapture and her lithe body seduced his to the point of no control.
"Jo."
"No." She looked down at him. "No stopping. You're in all the way or not at all."
"Then go, honey. Go."
She did, and she took him with her. Right over the edge.
In that moment JD did more than fall, he surrendered.
When she collapsed on top of him, her skin slick with sweat, and her heart hammering against his, he wrapped his arms around her. They lay there for a long time before she rolled off him. JD rolled over onto his side to look at her.
"I told the boys we're seeing each other."
She smiled when she looked at him. "And?"
"And you were right, they are too damn smart. They already knew there was something going on."
"Did they say how they feel about it?"
"They're a hundred percent for it. Apparently you rate right up there with the Sweet gals in hotness."
Jolene laughed. "Well, I guess I'm flattered."
"And they genuinely like you. They said you don't just listen, you hear them when they talk."
"They're amazing, JD and I'm not saying that as flattery. They're incredibly quick. Mentally, I mean. Last week, Mickey and Malachi showed them the editing and audio software, and they picked it up in half an hour. Not only that, but they're very insightful. One day Nellie Mae came in bitching about something and they were so sweet to her. Calmed her right down and when she left the room she was smiling like a schoolgirl. I said something about it and they said she was just a lonely lady who needed someone to say something nice to her every now and then so she could remember that she mattered.
"I teared up. I mean that got to me. They're so remarkable and that's because of you. You helped them become that and I admire that so much. It says a lot about you and the depth of your love."
That both touched and stunned JD. "I – I don't quite know what to say but thank you."
"You're a remarkable man, JD and – god, okay, this just isn't working."
That send a scare stabbing into him. "What?"
"JD. It doesn't sound right when I say it. JD. Dylan. Justice. Justice, yes, that sounds right. Can I please call you Justice?"
"You can call me whatever you want, honey, just as long as you call me."
"Oh that was bad," she said and laughed. "Justice fits."
"How so?"
Jo sat up and stared at him for a few moments. "These last few weeks, I've paid attention. I've watched you with your boys, your brothers, and dad and with Eloise. I've seen you interact with my crew, with people in town and I've paid attention to how people relate to you and the things they say.
"But most of all I've paid attention to you, and I get it. Not to bring up a sore subject, but I understand now. Why you felt the way you did after your wife died. You took on the responsibility, relieving her of it and protecting your sons from it. You saw it as your fault and now I know you're a man who needs to feel that debts are paid, that things are just, and so that's what you tried to do."
"I'm not that noble, Jo. You know that so don't view me through rose-colored glasses. I let myself blame you so I wouldn't have to shoulder the blame."
"But that's just it, Justice. You didn't know me. Not really. I mean we had this – this incredible connection, but we didn't know one another. So you let the blame fall on a stranger so it didn't have to fall on her. I know you took the blame. It twisted you up in a knot that's just now starting to unravel."
"That still doesn't make me noble."
"No, but it makes you human and the fact that you've moved beyond it makes you noble. Nobility is born of the qualities of integrity, honor, generosity, and selflessness. That's what makes a person noble and you show that every day in your business dealings and the way you conduct yourself with your friends and family. You demonstrated that when you acknowledged the truth you were trying to hide from.
"I'm proud of you, Justice. I knew that man was inside you. I'm glad I found him."
JD searched for the right words. He didn't want to screw this up. "I appreciate that but I honestly don't know that it's true. What I do know is what I knew the first time I met you. That you'd be the one to save me."
"From what?"
"Myself."
"And do you feel saved?"
"I'm starting to."
"Then I'm happy."
"Are you?"
"Right now I'm happier than I've been in a very long time."
"And what would make you happier than you already are?"
She grinned at him. "Food. I could eat the south end of a north bound cow I'm so hungry."
JD laughed and pushed himself up, offering her a hand. "Then let's get to that dinner."
Jolene rose and wrapped her arms around him, putting her face against the firm swell of his chest. JD, held her tight. He wanted to hold onto this moment and this happiness. He'd already figured out that what he felt for Jolene wasn't just lust, and it wasn't salvation. He was head over heels in love with her.
And that scared the hell out of him because until now, he'd never been in love.
Chapter Thirteen
"Everyone in the county must be here." Jolene held onto JD's hand as they made their way through the crowd.
"Wouldn't surprise me."
"Briggs and Dawson are pretty stoked about competing. I – I hope you don't mind, but we filmed them practicing a couple of times and they're really good."
JD looked down at her. "I don't guess I mind."
"Well thank you. I'd hate to have to edit it out. They're really something."
"That they are. And speak of the devil."
Briggs and Dawson ran up, both grinning from ear-to-ear. Jolene noticed that JD didn't release her hand, just like she noticed that his boys took note of the fact.
"Justice you better take these men back home."
He gave her a puzzled look and she smiled. "Looking that good, they're gonna have every buckle bunny here trying to do some roping of their own."
She could tell the twins got a kick out of the comment, and even JD smiled. "Well, you might be right. Boys?"
Briggs rolled his eyes and the Dawson mirrored the gesture. "Y'all gonna be watching, right?"
"You know it, son."
"A thousand-pound bull couldn't drag me away." Jolene said.
"I'm glad you're here, Jo." Dawson leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.
"Thank you."
"Yeah, Dad's creds are going way up tonight." Briggs said.
"My creds?" JD looked from Briggs to Dawson.
"Well yeah. I mean you're dating the hottest girl in town."
Jolene cut her eyes at JD, waiting for his reaction. He looked down at her. "I surely am."
"Aww, you guys. You're gonna give me the big head." Jolene appreciated the compliments but changed the subject. "So, when's the team roping and are you ready? What's the competition like?"
That launched the twins on a round robin of stats about the other competitors that lasted a good ten minutes. They were just winding down when Jayce and Bryson walked up with two attractive women. "Yo." Jayce clapped Briggs on the shoulder, as he was the one within reach. "You boys ready to kick some ass?"
"You know it."
"Well, we'll be rootin' for you. Oh, sorry. This is Pam and Deb. Girls, this is my brother JD, his boys, Briggs and Dawson and his lady, Jolene."
"Pleasure." JD said and smiled.
"Likewise." The one introduced as Pam spoke up and looked at Jolene. "I've seen you on TV."
"You watch the show? Thank you, I'm flattered."
"Are you a real Indian?" Deb asked.
"Yes, well, half anyway. My father was Cherokee."
"Really? Did you live on a reservation and everything?"
This wasn't Jolene's first time at being asked those questions. "Yes, for a while, when I was a child."