by Cameron Dane
It was too beautiful a day for Sarah to succumb to Jace's overbearing attitude. She grabbed her purse off the chair by the front door and slung it over her shoulder. “We're going to drive the stretch of land bordering the state road on the east side of town.” She grinned and opened the front door just as the doorbell sounded again. “And then I'm going to make sure we're sitting smack in the middle of the diner when the churches let out.”
The blond man on the porch picked up Sarah's comment as if she had given him a cue. “If that's where people congregate after mass, then I like the way you think, Ms. Tennison.” The man stood with his hands in the pockets of his dress pants, the gesture pushing his suit jacket open at the waist and revealing a button-down white shirt open at the neck. “I'm glad Ty pointed you out to me,” he added.
“Not everybody goes to Mavis's, Mr. Quick,” Sarah answered, “but plenty enough do that you'll think so by the time we leave.” She stepped out onto the porch, and a light spring breeze wafted against her bare legs. “And please, call me Sarah. I don't think I'd turn around and respond to a Ms. or even a Miss.”
The man dipped his head. “I will remember that. Feel free to call me Alex.”
Jace eased up to Jasper's side, and they somehow crammed themselves into the open doorway. “Feel free to call me Jace,” he said as he looked Alex up and down. “Or you could call me Deputy and easily reach me down at the station. Where I work. With Sarah.”
“Jasper Simmons,” Jasper said. He moved out onto the porch too and stuck out his hand. With just a hair's extra height on Alex, Jasper stared the man right in his eyes and looked like he tried to break Alex's hand as he shook it. “I work for Hawkins Ranch just outside of town. Maybe you've heard of them? They're a big, important operation. Make a visit sometime while you're visitin' Quinten if you feel like it. We're gettin' into castratin' season right now.”
“Oh. My. God. You are both incredible.” Sarah eased between Jasper and Alex and nudged Jasper back to the door. “And don't for one second think I mean that in a good way either.” Sarah was used to Jace throwing his weight around with her, but she had never seen Jasper wave his dick and mark territory. “I have my cell phone with me, and I'll leave it turned on.” Her thoughts slipped to the terrible tragedy both men found themselves immersed in yesterday, and she made eye contact with each as her conscience tugged at her. “I'll check in with you both in a few hours. You get that courtesy only because it's smart, and I know you'll worry otherwise. Not that you deserve that from me today. Either one of you. We're leaving now. Bye.”
“Nice to meet you.” Alex shook hands with each man quickly before slipping on a pair of sunglasses and following Sarah down the steps.
Jasper gritted his teeth as he watched Sarah walk away with another man. He was already riddled with anxiety on a daily basis, part of it due to his belief that he wasn't good enough for a woman like Sarah. He didn't need some guy with an easy smile, who looked like he owned the world, trying to charm her and adding to Jasper's insecurities.
Watching Sarah start her car, with this Alex person riding shotgun, seared heat under Jasper's skin and brought up a rumble from his chest. “I don't like that guy.”
Jace crossed his arms and braced his legs, staring as Sarah and Alex drove away. “You just met him,” he said. “You don't even know him.”
“Still don't like him.”
“Yeah.” Jace slid Jasper a sidelong glance. “I don't either.”
Jasper chuckled but then wrinkled his nose as something acrid assaulted his senses. “Did you leave somethin' on the stove?”
“The bacon. Oh shit!” Jace raced back into the house, and Jasper followed almost as quickly, pausing only long enough to shut the front door. He entered the kitchen to Jace dumping the contents of the frying pan down the sink.
As he switched on the garbage disposal, Jace looked over at Jasper. “Well, I fucked that up, so now we're down to eggs and a slice of toast each.” Jace opened the carton of eggs and moved back to the stove. “You in?”
“Yeah, that's fine.” Jasper sat down at the table but kept shifting looks Jace's way. Uncertain, and unable to sit still, he grabbed his cup and stood. “You want some coffee?”
“Nope. I'll take orange juice, though, if you'll pour me a glass.” With the first two eggs frying, Jace tore the last two slices of bread out of their wrapper and slipped them into the toaster. “Don't really like the taste of coffee,” he added. “Never have.”
“I learned to like it,” Jasper admitted. After refilling his mug, he grabbed a glass out of the wire basket next to the sink and pulled the carton of OJ out of the fridge. “I needed the caffeine to help me wake up when I first started workin' out at the ranch.” Juice poured, Jasper put the carton away, went back to the table with Jace's glass, and set it down in front of an empty seat. Taking a seat, he frowned as he remembered some of those mornings after moving to Quinten. “Wasn't used to gettin' up that early and workin' so long and hard when I first started with the Hawkinses.”
As he grabbed two plates out of the dish rack and slid the first two eggs onto one, Jace glanced over his shoulder to Jasper. “Probably old hat by now, huh?”
His cheeks tingeing with heat, Jasper said, “It's a lot harder to stay up late than to get up early these days.”
“That might not be such a bad thing.” The toaster buzzed right then, and the bread automatically popped up. “You want to grab that toast and spread some peanut butter on mine?” Jace asked while flipping the second set of eggs in the frying pan. “The eggs will be done in a sec.”
Jasper nodded and did as requested. While Jace worked, Jasper kept sneaking peeks at the other man and battled all kinds of confusion. For one, Jace hardly ever offered him more than a handful of terse words when they crossed paths in the past, and now here he was, happily cooking Jasper breakfast. Jasper knew Jace didn't like him with Sarah. Most of the time, Jace didn't seem to like Jasper period. Then there was the fact that even though Jasper's head swirled with all this conflicting behavior from Jace, he still couldn't take his damn eyes off the hard lines of Jace's bare back, and he couldn't help wondering what that flesh would feel like under his fingers…and maybe his mouth too. What the goddamn hell? Jasper loved Sarah so much, and he wanted her all the time. He knew his feelings for her were real. Deep in his gut, he knew she was his world. At the same time, though, his skin rippled with awareness of this man.
Sliding a plate in front of Jasper, Jace said, “There you go,” and took his seat. “Enjoy.”
“Thanks.” Jasper darted his focus downward. He feigned fascination with his meal but barely tasted the over-easy eggs and peanut-butter toast.
After downing most of his food in just a few bites, Jace broke the brief quiet. “How are you doing today?”
Jasper lifted his gaze and found Jace studying him with tangible intensity. Something in his pale gaze trapped Jasper in its hold and put a knot in his throat.
“With everything that happened yesterday?” Jace prompted. “I'm wondering how you're dealing with what you saw.”
Jasper shook his head, severing the spell of Jace's stare. Stop letting him, and your misplaced attraction for him, confuse you. “I'm fine.”
“You sure?”
Underlying nervousness, along with some suspicion, mingled with self-preservation in Jasper. If he'd had hair on his spine, it would be standing on end. “I don't understand why you're all of a sudden talkin' to me and wantin' to know how I feel,” he blurted. “You were hostile toward me sometimes, even when me and Sarah was—were—just friends. Shit, half the time you talk to me like you think I'm stupid, but now all of a sudden you're bein' all nice to me like we're best friends or somethin'. I know you don't think I should be with Sarah, so I don't know what kind of game you're playin' by being so friendly, but it ain't gonna work. Just be honest; at least I can respect that.”
Jace's lips thinned down to pale slashes in his olive skin. “Okay, since we seem to be exchanging a heal
thy dose of 'respect' lately; this isn't about you, Jasper, or liking you or disliking you as a person. You're right about one thing, though.” Jace very carefully put his fork down and looked right into Jasper's eyes. “I don't think you're good enough for Sarah.”
Jasper sneered. “And you're so much better?”
“I didn't say that.” Jace snapped those words, then spit out an expletive. “The truth is, nobody is good enough for her. Nobody knows how strong Sarah had to be when her mom died, and then when Hunter had to go to Afghanistan and later to Iraq. Nobody knows, because she doesn't let it get to her in public. Hell, she doesn't even let people like me see it unless it's really bad. Even then I have to catch her, because she tries to do it in private. Everyone else in this town sees a sweet, funny girl who isn't very threatening, and they all want to be friends with her because she can always make you smile and feel better when you're around her. Those people don't know how soft she is beneath that armor of a smile. Those people don't see how scared she is that her brother is going to die, or how when she watches the news, she chews a hole through her lip with worry anytime the war is even mentioned. Those people don't understand that she had to care for her mother through a prolonged illness and then at the end had to sit for a week and watch her die. She helped her brother make decisions a grown-up shouldn't have to make, let alone a girl of sixteen. None of you know how precious she is, and if you're all that blind, fine. But understand this.” Jace hardly moved a muscle, but Jasper could feel the electrical charge dancing around the room. “I will always be that big, growling bear over her shoulder that protects her from harm, from everyone, no matter what.”
Leaning forward over the table, Jasper got right in Jace's face. “This might shock you to hear, asshole, but I agree with you. I ain't good enough for her.” Too much testosterone filled Jasper, and he shot to his feet. He stayed right close to Jace and never looked away. “You're right about somethin' else too: neither are you. But here's what you're gonna have to deal with right now. Sarah don't want to be shielded from me, and I'm done stayin' away from her. I worked hard to become better than I was when we first met; I was patient and kept some distance between us for a long time while I worked myself ragged, happily and with purpose, every day, tryin' to get to a respectable place where I was enough of somethin' just to kiss her for the first time. I was lucky she let me be her friend and then even luckier when she kissed me back and we became more than friends. I thank God for that every day, just like I thank him for her. Sarah and me got somethin' special goin'. You might not like it, and you might want to keep her locked away, but I ain't gonna let you. And I for damn sure ain't gonna let you trick me or try to intimidate me or run me off. You feel how you feel, and I respect that, but I will not stay away from her. You want to fight me on that, then you can bring it, but nothin' is gonna keep me away from her or out of her bed now.”
Jasper walked across the kitchen, and paused to grab his Stetson where it sat on a step stool. He took a big step to leave, but his tongue burned with his desire to get a few more thing said.
“And by the way”—he turned and pointed at Jace—“I knew all that about Sarah. I know how her mother died, and I know how scared she is about Hunter too. I know because she trusts me, just like she does you. I don't claim to know everythin', but I do know her a lot better than what you give me credit for. I think I'm done here for now, but get used to seein' my face, because I will be back.” Jasper put on his hat and settled it low on his forehead. “Thank you for breakfast. I hope you have a good day.”
Jace sat at the table, unmoving, as Jasper walked out of the kitchen in fast strides and then out the front door, closing it with a respectful click. Jace wanted to take a minute and process the words Jasper had thrown at him, but right now, he could only feel the passion behind them. Jasper was a man who clearly cared as deeply for Sarah as Jace did. In Jace's world, that knowledge turned the young man from a handsome kid to sexy as hell. He would have chased the guy down and exchanged a few more fighting words, for the simple fact that it was exhilarating.
He would have jumped up, except that his cock ached in his sweats, visibly straining and hard as a rock.
Chapter Seven
Sarah sat quietly on her side of the diner's table as the deputy mayor, Brian Gates, did his thing and worked Alex over as if the man were one of his own constituents.
“I'm serious now,” Brian said. “The mayor's office wants to assist you with whatever you might need. You come and ask to speak to me, and I'll make sure whatever you need happens. My door is open for any questions or just for conversation.” He slid his hand to the inside of his suit jacket and produced a card. “Maybe we can have a beer sometime soon and talk about this in better detail.”
“We'll do that,” Alex answered as he took the offered business card. “I'll get in touch with you next week.” His gaze slid Sarah's way, though, and held on her.
Brian glanced back and forth between the two of them, and Sarah saw only a hint of frustration slip out in the brief pursing of his lips, which then returned to an open smile. “I'll let you get back to your meal.” He stuck out his hand, and Alex shook it. “It was good to touch base with you again.”
“Absolutely,” Alex agreed.
Brian then turned to Sarah. “Can you please get with my assistant and work out a good time for a daily update with the sheriff regarding that poor girl's murder?” His question held no actual request. “I just went and paid my condolences to the family. The sheriff was there, and we spoke briefly, but obviously I didn't want to talk with him about details and PR in front of them. I want the mayor's office to remain fully informed on the progress of this case every step of the way. We're fielding endless phone calls from media and residents, and I need them to have faith in how this investigation is being handled. The mayor doesn't want a town full of people upset and speculating, and young women too scared to leave their homes.”
Sarah nodded and made a mental note. “I'll speak to the sheriff and call your assistant first thing tomorrow morning to set up something that will work for the both of you.”
“Thank you,” Brian said. “I want to make sure the mayor's office and the sheriff's department are always on the same page.” He walked backward to the door but pointed at Alex again. “Don't forget about that beer.”
“I won't.” Alex waved at Brian's retreating form. After the man exited the diner, Alex turned back to Sarah, his brows raised high. “This is the second time he's given me his card. That guy is aggressive. And I'm being kind using that word.”
“True enough.” Through Sarah's job, she knew Brian Gates's style and persona fairly well. “He moved here a few years ago and quickly became a part of the local political scene. But I will say this: if you need something from the mayor's office, he really is the guy you want looking out for you. He's there working, or out talking to people in this town, all the time.”
“Good to know. See?” Alex smiled and lifted his glass in salute. “I knew you were the right person to show me this town.”
“I didn't—”
A dark-haired young man knocking on the diner's picture window captured Sarah's attention.
Ty Boone waved through the glass and then poked his head in the door, his focus on Sarah. “Don't forget. Meeting on Wednesday to go over any last-minute kinks that might mess with Saturday's event.”
“Don't worry, Ty.” Sarah smiled at her friend. “I'll be there. And you know I'm going to be selling the merits of the youth center all the way. Everything is going to be great.”
“I know. Just gotta stay on top of it.” Ty smiled sheepishly, and then shifted his attention to Alex. “Oh, hi, Mr. Quick. It's good to see you. We hope to see you at the youth center on Saturday too. Both of y'all have a nice day. Bye!” He ducked out of the diner as fast as he'd come in.
“Bye.” Sarah waved, smiling. Through the window, she saw him head across the street and enter the station.
“Ty seems like a nice kid,” Al
ex said. “He's passionate about his job, I'll give him that.”
Tyler Boone was one of the assistants at the youth center and unofficially headed up the tween programs.
“Yeah, he is,” she replied. “His father is the sheriff. And with Ty coming in and out of the station so much, I don't know, he somehow wrangled me into teaching an art class at the center.” Sarah grinned and lifted her gaze heavenward. “It's pretty funny to see sometimes.”
With their meal finished and the diner now completely cleared of its after-lunch crowd, Alex kicked back in his seat and stretched his legs along the side of the table. “What?” He raised his brows comically. “You mean you're not some great hidden artistic talent in small-town America, waiting to be discovered?”
Sarah laughed and almost choked on a sip of water. “Not even close. I took three years of art in high school, and I did well on the 'study' aspect, where we learned about different mediums and studied the historical greats. I'm awful in practical application, but I still love creating. In Ty's eyes, that's enough to qualify me for the position.”
“Maybe it does. You're there to guide, not necessarily be great yourself.”
“It's a shame there isn't someone better qualified who is willing to do the job. Quinten isn't so 'small town' anymore that Ty's options should be so limited.”
“Relatively speaking, Quinten is still on the small side,” Alex replied. “However, it is growing. From my perspective, it's the perfect time to build. You still haven't had the big corporations come in and crush your homegrown businesses, and God willing, you never will. With that, you have a community here where some of its residents are doing very well and are ready, and in a position, to move into larger homes. What you don't have yet is options.”
“And that's what you want to bring to Quinten?” Sarah asked. “Options? Growth?”
Alex nodded. “In a controlled manner,” he assured. “I don't want to buy up everything and stamp out a bunch of cookie-cutter houses that look like a million other suburbs in America. I'd like to build up the area with a set number of unique houses that are larger than what exists in Quinten right now but that don't oversaturate the needs of the local market.”