But he loved this side of her, too—the soft, giving, kittenish woman she became when she was well and truly loved.
She’d fallen asleep on his lap, before they’d even finished drying her. As he carried her to bed he glanced at the bedside clock. It was already beyond one in the morning. It was definitely time for them all to get some sleep. Although he couldn’t really say if either he or Norm would let her sleep more than a few hours without waking her.
Will suspected his cousin was feeling as greedy as he was. I don’t know if I’ll ever get enough of our woman.
Jacqui frowned and gave a tiny whimpering sound as he laid her on the bed. He guessed that was because the sheets had gone cold while they’d showered. He got into the bed beside her and in her sleep, she moved over and snuggled up until she was partly draped over him.
“I think we wore her out.” Norm said, his voice just above a whisper.
“We did. She melted when I washed her hair in the shower, and then totally relaxed as we dried her. I don’t think she’s had a lot of pampering in her life.”
Norm finished straightening the bedding, pulling up both sheet and comforter so Will could reach them on his side. Then his cousin got into the bed, spooned Jacqui, and made sure she was covered on his side.
A small yet happy-sounding sigh brushed across Will’s chest.
“The moment you snuggled up against her she relaxed completely.”
“I’ve been thinking about this a lot, lately. I believe there are some women who need two men in order to be complete. This town is full of them. And I really believe Jacqui is one of them. She needs us both to feel complete.”
William thought so, too. But he worried they wouldn’t be able to bring her around to making a commitment to them. The challenge wasn’t that he didn’t think they could get her to fall in love with them. She was more than half in love with them both already.
He believed that where their challenge lay was that she would resist the appearance of needing anyone. Their woman did like to act as if she could do everything, all by herself.
Though maybe not all by herself because although she left her home in Georgia—leaving behind her father and her grandparents—she came here, not to Lusty, but to her aunt Holly.
Maybe she’s clinging to the one person who’s never let her down. That meant that no matter how tough and jaded she appeared, she still held hope that not everyone would turn away from her.
“We have to make sure that she knows she can count on us to always be here for her. You know that, right?” Apparently, Norm’s thoughts paralleled his own. That shouldn’t surprise me. We’ve often been on the same page about a lot of things. That aspect of their relationship made their business partnership hum like a well-oiled machine. It only made sense they’d agree when it came to Jacqui.
“Yeah, I got that. We’ve both picked up on the clues she’s given us.”
“That means that only one of us should head back to New York and check on Cheryl.”
“I completely agree with you. We can’t chance leaving her all alone, not when we’ve finally got her in our bed.” Will didn’t particularly want to be away from Jacqui, especially since they were just getting started. But he thought it might be a good idea to not completely overwhelm her for a bit. “Listen, I’ll go this time. I won’t be gone more than a couple of days. And that’ll give the two of you some one on one time. I think it’ll be a good thing if we do that.”
“I’m not going to argue with you. But the next fire that needs putting out, I’ll handle.”
“Agreed. I think we should continue to do that—trade off until we know that she knows she can trust us.”
“If we get a situation we both need to handle, we’ll take her with us.” Norm was silent for a moment. Then he said, “There’s one more thing I think we really need to do.”
Will knew instantly what he was referring to. Though there hadn’t been any new developments for a few days, they hadn’t spoken to her about it since last weekend. “We need to let her know what’s going on with the situation with Rick Wilde.”
“Exactly.” Norm sighed. “I understood and even agreed with everything the guys said last week. And I hate like hell even the thought of Jacqui being in any kind of danger.”
“But you hate more her ire if we try to wrap her in cotton and keep her on the shelf.” That was an old-fashioned expression. Will grinned when he recalled where he heard it. His mom and dad had had more than one rip-roaring argument within his hearing.
Just one of the things that made man/woman relationships a challenge. Men were driven to protect their women—and women were driven to protect their men.
Finding the right balance could be a difficult thing.
“I don’t believe that Wilde is as dangerous, long term, as Adam thinks. I also don’t believe he’ll be able to make it all the way to Texas. It took us near a week to get here, and we had a good vehicle, money, and the ability to plan strategically.”
“I agree. I’m betting the authorities will have him in hand shortly. But until then, we go along with whatever precautions our cousin wants to implement, except for one. We’ll ensure our woman is completely in the loop.”
“That’s just one more way we can get her to trust us—by showing her we trust her, too.”
Those were Will’s thoughts exactly. He just hoped they didn’t live to regret not keeping Jacqui in the dark.
Chapter 13
There was nothing Kate Benedict loved more than watching people. Well, there was maybe one little thing more. She couldn’t help but think of that one thing more when her grandson, Adam, sighed and sat back in his chair. Oh, how in charge he appeared here in his office. In many ways, he reminded her of her Gerald. But my, was he a much changed man since Ginny and that sweet little Benny—Ben, as he preferred to be called lately—came into his life.
Love can work miracles. She’d experienced it herself, and seen it happen all around her, all of her life. Kate tucked those thoughts away for just now, although she knew, as she slid a sideways look at her friend, she’d have cause to think on them again soon. Or more than think on them, if I have to.
Beside her, her friend Angela Monroe proved that she was very good at reading people. Kate approved, because as the owner of a roadhouse she’d have to be good not only at reading folks, but knowing how to handle them as well.
Kate had known fifteen minutes into her first conversation with this amazing woman on that last cruise she took that Angela needed to come back to Texas, and make her home in Lusty. She thought back to that phase of her life, when she decided to give in to the bit of wanderlust that had still remained inside her, and see the world from the deck of a cruise ship.
Several cruise ships, if she were to be accurate. She’d seen plenty of the ports those ships had docked at, too. After a year of near steady going and seeing and doing, she’d made a stop in Virginia to collect her sweet Penelope, and then she’d come home to stay.
She didn’t regret the wanderlust. After all, if not for that part of her personality she would never have said yes to that offer all those years ago, to leave Virginia and take over a small convalescent home in a town called Lusty.
“Kate, I can’t believe you did this without consulting me.”
“Sheriff Kendall, Mrs. Benedict doesn’t need your permission to do anything.”
Oh, dear. Kate had been planning to just let these two find their way—Angela was going to be a permanent fixture in Lusty, after all—Kate had to hide her grin when she thought of just how Angela was going to come to that position—and it was important for her to find her own way with the people of her town—her family.
But she didn’t want anyone to come to blows.
Kate put her hand on Angela’s arm, an action that immediately garnered that woman’s attention. “It’s all right, sweetheart. Adam didn’t mean to sound like an officious prig. It’s just that as Sheriff, he holds himself responsible for taking care of and protecting ever
yone in this town—and he takes that responsibility very seriously.”
“Well that can be tiring.” Angela’s tone had lost its edge, a fact for which Kate was grateful.
“Yes, it can. Now”—she faced Adam—“I just had the idea that it might be nice to have a place for all these young people—you and Jake and Ginny included—to go to in the evenings. Some folks have been heading out all the way to Gatesville and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Gatesville is a good town full of good people. There’re a couple of very nice restaurants and bars there. But it’s a bit longer of a drive, and our people aren’t as important to the staff of those establishments, the way they’ll be important to our own folks close by at Angel’s Roadhouse.” Kate grinned. “This will give people a place to go, but at the same time, because it is outside of Lusty, protect our town from too many strangers poking around.” Some of the men—especially the younger men whose women had been put in danger over the last couple of years—had advocated making Lusty a gated community. Kate was loath to do that, simply because it would be surrendering to fear. As far as she was concerned there was too damn much fear in this country these days. She closed off that thought, because it just felt too negative. Kate brought herself back to the moment at hand. She could see the value of having a new recreational establishment close to but not inside Lusty, and hoped Adam did, too.
Lusty had always been a family community and she saw it as her sacred duty to see it remained so.
Angela didn’t miss a beat. “I’ve tended bar for the Carstairs Cruise Ship Line for six years, the last two as a manager. I’m good at spotting people who need a ride home, and I’m pretty good at heading off trouble. But only pretty good. Things can happen. That’s why I thought it would be a good idea for us to meet, and for you to be aware of what’s going to be opening soon, just outside of your town limits.”
Adam looked from Angie to Kate. Then he sighed. “You ladies both make a good argument. I didn’t think of it like that. And we’ve enough of a population increase lately that people are wanting another option for their evenings after work. All things considered, including the events in town over the last few years, keeping the bar outside town is a good idea.”
“Sheriff, you and I will get along much better if you remember one thing. I’m opening a roadhouse, not a bar.”
Adam raised one eyebrow, and Kate saw humor dance in his eyes.
“I’ll try my best to remember that, Ms. Monroe.”
“Delightful.”
Kate had to avert her gaze so she didn’t burst out laughing. Young people were just so damned entertaining these days. They thought they were in charge, and took every opportunity to let their feathers ruffle—sort of like a bunch of cockatiels getting ready to spat.
She inhaled and turned her attention back to the combatants. “Well, I’m so pleased that we’ve come to an understanding. Now Adam, don’t be too hard on Jake for not telling you about this little venture. I did ask him, as my lawyer, since it was my personal land that Angela bought, to keep this transaction to himself. Angela was less sure about the by-laws and approvals and whatnot from the various levels of government than we were. She didn’t want anyone to get their hopes up and then have them dashed.”
“The last of the bureaucratic hurdles have been cleared—a lot sooner than I’d thought they would be,” Angela said. “The basic structure of the building is sound, but it needs extensive renovations, inside.” She tilted her head to the side. “Your brother Jordan is coming out later this afternoon to have a look at it. I’m hoping he’ll agree to take it on. He does good work.”
“Yes,” Adam said. “He does. Where are you staying while all this work is being done, Mrs. Monroe?”
“Please call me Angela. There’s a small house on the property and I’d hoped to stay there, but it’s currently full up with…creatures. After the Roadhouse is complete, I’ll see if Jordan would like to take that project on as well. In the meantime, I’ve temporarily rented an apartment in that building over on Elm. Not in the fourplex, but in the larger single building.”
“Oh, Adam knows the place well. His Ginny lived there before they got married.”
“She did,” Adam said.
As Kate had calculated, mentioning her dear granddaughter instantly put Adam in a lighter, better mood.
Adam grinned. “Well, I suppose I should just stop being a pain and thank you for coming in to introduce yourself and let me know what’s coming.”
“I respect a man who feels responsible for the safety and well-being of others. I wish I’d known such a man in a position of authority when I was younger.”
Kate tried not to show Angela her reaction to that statement. She wondered if it was her return to Texas that had obviously put her friend on the path of remembering—and maybe reassessing—the past.
Kate could only hope so.
“Well, we’re headed off to lunch, Adam. Would you care to join us?”
“I’m not scheduled to take my lunch for another hour, yet. I think Matt is holed up in the kitchen over at Lusty Appetites, harassing the main chef.”
Kate chuckled.
The phone rang and Adam caught it on the first trill. “Lusty Sheriff’s Department, Adam Kendall speaking.”
Kate knew immediately that something was wrong. Adam got a look on his face she’d only seen him wear when trouble was brewing. She couldn’t imagine which of her grandchildren…William and Norman Kendall. She’d heard there’d been a bit of trouble involving one of their former clients who seemed intent of locating them.
“Are you certain it was Rick Wilde, Detective Cruz?”
Kate couldn’t hear the other end of the conversation, but she knew it was bad.
“All right, thank you for advising me. Have you notified the Texas State Police?” Adam listened a bit longer. “No, you’re right, and I’ll do that right away. Yes, I’ll keep you advised, and I know you’ll do the same. Thank you for calling.”
He hung up the phone, and Kate met his gaze. “We’ll get out of your way. Let me know if there’s anything I can do.”
Adam gave her one of his special smiles, one that reflected his heart. “I will. You take care of yourself, Grandma Kate.”
“Indeed I will, Adam. I think there are going to be a lot of new grandbabies in the next few years, and I want to meet them.”
She got to her feet and smiled at Angela.
“It was nice to meet you, Sheriff.” She extended her hand, and Adam, who’d of course risen with them, shook it.
“Just Adam, Angela. We’re informal around here.”
“Adam, then.”
“Let’s go have our lunch, Angela. I believe that Kelsey has chicken fried steak as the special today—and, of course, my granddaughter Tracy will have whipped up another batch of her amazing cream puffs.”
And she wouldn’t for the world even hint to Angela that there might be someone interesting having lunch right now over at the restaurant.
* * * *
It certainly wasn’t the best news Jacqui ever received, but she couldn’t say it was altogether unexpected, either.
All around her, the noon-hour conversation inside Lusty Appetites hummed along as if the bottom hadn’t just fallen out of the world. She looked down at her plate, the chicken fried steak one of her favorites. Her appetite had vanished. “How long will you be gone?”
“I’m hoping no more than a couple of days. One of us needs to go and make sure that Cheryl and her mom are settled into our house in the Hamptons, and that they have everything they need. I know Dad made sure they got there all right, but Cheryl is our employee. So, barring any weather fiascos—and I know that’s asking a lot because the weather’s been a bitch all over so far this year—I should be home by Thursday.”
Something Will had just said finally got through her sudden and very unappealing little pity party.
“One of you needs to go?”
“Yes. Norm’s staying home, to protect our interest
s here in Lusty.”
His smile was part smug and part—she didn’t know part what else. “What interests here in Lusty?”
“You.” Norm picked up her left hand and brought it to his lips. “I was hoping that you’d take pity on me and stay over a couple nights so I didn’t get too lonely—or I could stay over with you in your apartment, same reason.”
“Your bathroom’s better.” They weren’t both leaving her. Jacqui looked down while she tried to get the sense of relief that swamped her under control. It wouldn’t be a good idea to let them know how much they’d both come to mean to her in such a short time.
“I was thinking the same thing. Great, then. Why not come over with your things after work today? We can make supper together tonight.”
“It’ll be good for the two of you to spend some quality one-on-one time together,” William said.
Jacqui looked up and met Will’s gaze. She put her focus on reading whatever nuances he might show her. “You don’t mind?”
“No.” Will picked up her other hand, and copied Norm’s action. These two seemed to enjoy kissing her hands a lot. Such an old-fashioned habit—and one that seemed capable of melting her heart, apparently. “It was my idea. I think it would be good for each of us to spend private time with you—and I promise you that neither of us will be jealous of the other.”
Jacqui guessed that if she didn’t already live in Lusty and know so many ménage families, the idea that two very alpha hetero males could share her without jealousy would have been a hard one to wrap her head around.
“Okay.” Can you be any stingier? Jacqui tried again. “Actually, that sounds like a really good idea.”
Will grinned. “Great. I’m going to miss you, but I’ll do my best to get back here as fast as I can.”
“While Cheryl is out, who’s minding the office for you?”
Will looked at Norm, one eyebrow raised. Norm grinned. “My sister, Mary. She’s sort of been a fixture around the office since we moved to that tower in Manhattan anyway. She’s between semesters right now so it works out perfectly for all of us.”
Love Under Two Extroverts [The Lusty, Texas Collection] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 12