Animal Instincts [The Andersons 2] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Marie Jermy

  “Ramona?” Her father’s tone suggested he had repeated her name. “Do you love Rex? Then tell him,” he said when she nodded. “We men are not mind readers.”

  “But what if he doesn’t feel the same?” she said, a small measure of fear creeping in.

  Her father snorted. “The man’s crazy about you. The way he looks at you. Acts with you. If that’s not love, then I don’t know what is.” A knowing smile creased his aged yet still handsome features. “In some ways he reminds me of me when I first met your mother. The moment I looked into those green eyes, I was a goner. And I’m betting Rex is the same.”

  Hearing the reassuring words, Ramona’s fear quickly dispelled. Her father, as usual, was right. Rex may not have told her he loved her, but through his actions, he had shown her. She still needed to hear the words though. She removed her cell phone from her jeans front pocket and called Rex’s. It went straight to voice mail. She called the house. The answering machine picked up.

  “No answer?”

  She shook her head and tucked the cell back into her pocket. “He’s either driving or too busy with an emergency callout. I’ll try later.” She picked up her coffee and grimaced at its coolness.

  “This is some five minutes,” Samantha said, poking her head through the open kitchen window. Instantly suspicious of the startled expressions that she’d obviously interrupted something, her eyes narrowed. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing’s wrong, Sam,” Ross answered. He rolled up his shirt sleeves. “I hope you’ve left me something to do.”

  “There’s a patch of weeds with your name on it.”

  “Only a patch?”

  Relieved that Samantha hadn’t pushed and her father hadn’t supplied, Ramona smiled at the banter going on between them as she followed her father out into the garden.

  Ten minutes later, and the sound of a vehicle’s engine attracted Ramona’s attention. Rising and brushing the dirt from the knees of her jeans, she wandered over to the side fence. Was it Rex? No, it wasn’t, but she recognized the tall, tanned, blond-haired, and dustily clothed man who alighted from an equally dust-covered truck immediately, despite not having seen him for three years.

  With a delighted shriek, she bounded inside the house and into the living room. “Well, well, well, look who’s here. It’s Danny Boy.” Daniel Ferris, as always, looked more than a little bemused as to which twin she was, so she helped him along. “Ramona.” She grinned. “As you can see, I’ve had my hair cut. You won’t have any difficulty in telling us apart anymore.”

  “Right. Suits you.”

  “Do you think?” she asked, lightly touching the soft spikes. “I wasn’t too sure at first, but it’s growing on me.”

  Daniel groaned, then wished her a happy birthday for the day before and promised to take her and Samantha to Rustlers for several drinks to make up for not bringing gifts. Samantha then joined them. Almost immediately, Ramona noticed Daniel turning another kind of flustered, apparently losing the ability to string two words together. Also, he seemingly had trouble taking his eyes off Samantha.

  She spared a glance at her sister. Wow! Rex had said he’d hoped the silver charm bracelet would make her lucky in love, but she’d bet he never thought it would come true. But Danny Ferris? The brother of Jessica, who her own brother, Ross, had been in love with all his life? Unreal. Talk about keeping it in the family.

  “You’ll have dinner with us, won’t you?”

  Ramona started. She hadn’t realized her mother was in the room until she spoke. Standing by the sideboard, she, too, was watching the exchange between Samantha and Daniel. There was a wariness to her mother’s expression, which then disappeared as quickly as it appeared, making Ramona wonder if she’d seen it at all.

  She tuned back into the conversation just as her mother suggested that if Daniel so wished, he could shower after Samantha. She looked at each in turn. Daniel sported a noticeable bulge in the crotch of his dusty jeans and literally backpedaled out of the door. With beaded nipples beneath the mucky T-shirt and a flushed face, Samantha, too, appeared turned on and couldn’t get up the stairs fast enough. If her sister’s happiness hadn’t been such a serious matter, Ramona would have found it funny.

  “Was it something I said?” Jess asked, shaking her head, bemused.

  Yet Ramona wasn’t fooled. She knew her mother was just as perceptive as her father, maybe even more so.

  “Will Rex be joining us for dinner?”

  “I don’t know,” she answered truthfully.

  “You two had a fight?”

  “Yes,” she again answered truthfully. “But we’ll work things out.”

  “I hope so. I like Rex.”

  And I love him, Ramona thought as her mother disappeared into the kitchen. Her cell vibrated in her pocket. It was Rex. “Hi.”

  “Hi, yourself. You called?”

  “Yeah, I…” Was there a flintiness to Rex’s tone? “Where are you?”

  “Home. Did you want something?”

  His tone was definitely flinty. For a moment, she wondered about the reasons why before giving herself a mental kick in the ass. Doh! Rex was clearly as pissed at her as she had been with him. Mmm, maybe now was not the time to ask him to say a certain three little words. Still, she said, “You.” There was a very long silence. She couldn’t even hear Rex breathing, and Ramona gave herself another mental kick in the ass. “Rex?”

  “I’ve bought Sundance for the practice.”

  Though still flinty, his tone hinted at the familiar smugness. She felt better. Everything was going to be all right. She knew it. “That’s great.”

  “Come home.”

  “I will.”

  “When?”

  “Soon.” She disconnected and ascended the stairs. The bathroom door was open. The vaporous air, immaculate surfaces, and neatly hung damp towels told her Samantha had showered. She entered their bedroom. Standing by the mirrored wardrobe, her sister was staring into space. She ran a critical eye over the beige linen slacks and white-lace, scoop-neck top. She was not impressed. “You’re not wearing that tonight, are you?”

  Samantha jumped and turned and faced her. “Yeah, why?”

  “Hair up or down?”

  “Down.”

  “Then it sucks.” Samantha sat down at the dressing table and studied herself in the mirror. Knowing exactly what her sister was thinking, Ramona tutted her disapproval. It was enough to have Samantha pinning her hair up with a pair of tortoise-shell combs.

  “How’s that?”

  “Too severe. Loosen it up and leave some hanging down. Much better,” she said as readjustments were made. “Have you left me any hot water for a shower?”

  Samantha grinned at Ramona in the mirror. “Sorry. Since you’re living at the vets, why don’t you go and ask Rex if you can share his shower?” Ramona’s expression was gleeful, her cheeks turned pink, and Samantha’s grin faltered. “I knew it! You’ve had more than a shower with him, haven’t you? You’ve had sex with him.”

  “Yep, and it was hotter than this weather.” Ramona decided not to tell Samantha the whole story, argument and all. There would be plenty of time for that. She was more interested in talking about Danny Ferris. She walked over and placed her hands on her sister’s shoulders. “Don’t worry, Sammy. Your time will come.”

  “But when?”

  “With the way Danny Boy was looking at your earlier, then it will be sooner than you think. He has a serious case of the hots for you.”

  “You think?”

  “I know. Need any advice?”

  “Which department?”

  “Take your pick. Foreplay. Erotic massage. Positions. Oral.”

  “Oral.”

  “If you want Danny, or any man for that matter, to be like putty in your hands then suck on his balls. And for guaranteed explosive results, press your finger up against his perineum while sucking his cock. It will drive him wild.”

  “Mark was wild.”

  Noting
the downcast eyes and feeling the shudder beneath her fingers, Ramona gave her sister a loving hug. “Oh, Sammy. Not all men are like Mark. Danny certainly isn’t. Remember your description of Rex? ‘Nice, kind and tall.’ Well, Danny’s got those qualities, too. You know he has. He’s the man for you.” She grinned as a thought occurred to her. “Who’d have thought it? My big sister is gonna be a cradle-snatcher.”

  A bubble of laughter escaped from Samantha. “He’s only three years younger,” she pointed out.

  “What’s a little math?” Ramona got to her feet and ambled over to the doorway. “I think I will take that shower with Rex.”

  “You will be back for dinner though, won’t you?”

  “Wouldn’t miss it. And I’ll be staying the night, too. After your first date, I want all the goss. I’ll bet Danny’s one helluva kisser.”

  “Date?”

  “Yes, date. After dinner. At Rustlers. Danny did say he was buying.”

  “But—”

  “I’m not playing gooseberry. It will be just you and him. Very cozy.”

  “Oh, right. But he’ll never kiss me.”

  “Then kiss him. And don’t forget what I told you about fingering his perineum.” Ramona smiled as she descended the stairs. Fingering Rex’s perineum had definite appeal. She quickened her steps, flung open the front door and smacked straight into Matt. “Jeez, what’s your hurry?” she said.

  “What’s yours?” she refrained from answering and went to go around him, but he planted his right arm across the jamb, barring her way. A set of scratches scored red on his forearm. “You’ll never guess who I’ve just arrested.”

  Something in Matt’s over-the-top enthusiasm and the scratches suggested she’d want to know. “Who?”

  “The model Stacey Davenport. Is it true she and Rex were married?”

  Were being the operative word, but worry still clenched her stomach. Rex’s ex-wife was here in Silver Creek? Or rather, locked in the town’s police station’s cell. Had that been the reason for Rex’s flinty tone on the phone? Had he seen her? Argued with her? Reconciled with her? Ramona dismissed that thought immediately. But if Stacey had hurt Rex, in any way, then she and her were going to have serious words. “Yes. They divorced about eight months ago. What happened?”

  Matt’s shrug was so nonchalant Ramona could have slapped him. “Rex was arguing with a woman outside Bob Cannell’s store on Second. I went over, see what the problem was. He left. She wanted to go after him. I stopped her. She threw a hissy fit and used her inch-long nails on me. Hurt like a bitch I can tell you.”

  “What were they arguing about?”

  “Look, I’ve already said too much. You know I’m not supposed to discuss cases. Oh, all right!” Matt conceded when Ramona went to pinch his scratches. “Anything to keep the peace. I don’t think Ms. Davenport liked being an ex.” He lifted his arm. “Tell Rex to drop by the station. I need a statement.”

  Ramona nodded, got in her truck, and drove home like a madwoman. She found Rex in the rear garden murdering the lilac. He was bare chested, his T-shirt snagged on the swing seat. Sweat glistened between his shoulder blades and his biceps corded and bulged as he hacked at the branches, with an axe, no less.

  For a full minute, she watched him, fascinated. The heavy scowl and the determined set of his rugged, unshaven jaw added attitude to his glaring anger. But she wasn’t frightened. No matter how angry Rex got, he would never turn that anger onto her. Not even Stacey. Indeed, he wouldn’t strike any woman or man. He would channel his anger in other ways, like he was doing now.

  When Rex paused to wipe sweat from his brow, Ramona stepped forward and tapped him on the shoulder. “Are you the Seeker? And is that the Sword of Truth?” she asked, referring to Terry Goodkind’s The Sword of Truth novels.

  He spun around, the axe hit the ground, and he cursed a blue streak that easily rivaled one of hers at it landed mere millimeters from separating his toes from his feet. She couldn’t stop the giggle that bubbled up, making the scowl deepen until his brows covered his eyes.

  “Dammit, Ramona! Don’t ever sneak up on me like that again.”

  “I wasn’t sneaking. In fact, I never sneak. I prefer ‘in your face.’” He grunted and turned back to the decimated lilac. “I heard what happened. You know, with Stacey.”

  “Town this small and news will travel fast. Or did Matt tell you?”

  “Stupid question, but are you okay?”

  Another grunt. “Fan-fuckin’-tastic.”

  “Rex?” Ramona placed a hand on the knotted muscles of his right upper arm and turned him back around. “What did she want?”

  “A second chance.”

  “And?”

  “And what, Ramona? I told her to fuck off.” His eyes narrowed, the dreamy toffee-brown color dark and as hard as stone. “Why, what do you think I did? Welcomed her back with open arms? Not a chance in hell.”

  “What if I told you Stacey’s sitting in a police cell?”

  His eyes widened with surprise. “Matt arrested her?”

  “After you left, she went to go after you, but Matt stopped her. She assaulted him. Nasty set of claws your ex has.”

  “Perfect. Ah, I mean not perfect as in that Matt got hurt, but perfect that Stacey’s sitting in a police cell.”

  “You really don’t care, do you?”

  “How many more times, Ramona? I don’t give a fuck about Stacey. She’s my past.” His anger cooled, the tension left his jaw, and his eyes softened. “You’re my future.”

  Her heart jumped at the subtle declaration of love. Ramona held her excitement in check, though. She had to let Rex finish.

  “I should have told you this morning, Ramona, but you were angry, understandably so. That was my fault. I was a jerk. I should have never jumped to the wrong conclusion. It’s a mistake I never intend to make again, I want you to know that.”

  “I made a mistake, too. I walked out on you.”

  “You had every right.”

  The excitement was just too much. “So do you… Are you…?” She bit her bottom lip, the words suddenly failing her.

  “What, in love with you?” he offered.

  “Yes.”

  “No.” Her crestfallen expression made his lips twitch. “Ramona, I don’t just love you, I adore you. Have done since the moment I first saw you and mistook you for the receptionist.”

  Ramona whacked Rex in the chest for his smug smile, and he grabbed her wrists and pulled her into his embrace, safe and secure. “You smug SOB!”

  “Yes, I am. And you’re never going to change that.”

  “Why would I?” She gazed up into his toffee-brown eyes that were now darkened with desire. “It’s one of the things I love about you. I love you, Rex.”

  “There’s something else you should know, Ramona. My feelings are never going to change. And every day for the rest of my life, I’m going to tell you how much you mean to me.” He inclined his head and gently nudged noses with her. “You’d call it twenty questions. I’d say I’m curious. When did you know you loved me?”

  “I had my suspicions when you had your hand stuffed up Storm’s ass.” She laughed at his expression of yuck. “As you know I don’t do romance, but can I tempt you into staying by my side forever?”

  “Are you asking me to marry you?”

  “Yeah, I guess I am.”

  “Shouldn’t it be me asking you, darlin’?”

  “Rex, darlin’, that’s sooo old-fashioned,” she said, mimicking his Southern drawl to perfection.

  “But, Ramona, that’s sooo romantic,” he drawled right back. He got down on one bended knee, her hands in his, and grinned up at her.

  “I said I don’t do romance, so if you want hearts and flowers, then you’re proposing to the wrong twin.”

  “I’m not down here to propose, Ramona. I’m down here to lick you into a frenzy. Your howling drives me wild. Wild for your animal instincts.”

  THE END

  WWW.BOOKSTRAND.COM/
MARIE-JERMY

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Hmm, let’s see. Well, I was born on August 1, 1972, which makes me a Leo. So am I a lioness? Yes, although I only show my claws when provoked. I am married to Richard and have three children, collectively and affectionately known as “The A-Team,” so called because their first names start with an “A.” I would consider myself to be quite crafty, a trait inherited from my late father, and clever (well, I like to think so!). I also have a sarcastic, sometimes dirty sense of humor, and because of my time employed by the police, I am completely unshockable. When I’m not writing or looking after the kids, I can be found with my nose stuck between the pages of a romance novel or a book about the Titanic.

  Also by Marie Jermy

  Siren Classic: Secret Eyes

  Siren Classic: The Andersons 1: Together Forever

  Available at

  BOOKSTRAND.COM

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com