Missy's Moment (The West Series Book 4)

by Jill Sanders

  “Go, girl!” Alex chimed in, only to be nudged by Haley and Wes.

  “Reece?” She started to worry that he might pass out, but he was avoiding looking at her skirt and had taken a seat on the edge of the desk. She stayed where she was and tried to cover up as much of the blood as she could with her arms.

  Less than a half an hour later, everyone was crowded into the small sheriff’s office a few blocks away.

  “Why does it seem that trouble seems to follow you Wests?” he asked, sitting behind his desk. When everyone started talking at once, he held up his hand and picked up his ringing phone.

  “Yo,” he said. “Yeah, so I hear. Are you sure?” He looked towards Holly and frowned. “Right. Okay.”

  When he hung up, Grant stepped in front of Holly. “As Miss Bridles’ attorney, I’d like to know the charges.”

  The sheriff laughed. “There won’t be any.”

  “What?” Everyone looked over at Holly, who had stood up, her hands on her hips.

  “That was John T. Douglas, Savannah’s father. It seems that Savannah slipped on a broken tile in the woman’s restroom at the Rusty Rail and fell face first into the sinks. I’ve been telling them for years to fix those floors.” The sheriff shook his head.

  “That’s a lie.” Holly stepped forward, only to be grabbed and hushed by Grant. “But it’s wrong. They’re going to sue the Rusty Rail.”

  “It doesn’t matter. I’ll represent the bar,” Grant said, trying to hold the hundred-pound woman back.

  “Grant,” Holly began.

  “Wes, Haley? Would you two make sure Holly gets home okay?” Grant nodded towards them.

  “I’ll make sure she’s okay.” Melissa stepped forward. “After all, we went together tonight.”

  Melissa gathered her friend and was grateful when Reece followed them outside.

  “I’ll drive,” he said, taking Holly’s other arm. Even then, Holly was trying to get back to the sheriff to explain. She kept saying, “It’s not right.”

  When they all got into Reece’s truck, Holly finally settled down, and they drove to the bookstore in silence.

  “Do you think they’ll win?” she finally asked when they’d parked in front of the small store. “The Douglas's?”

  “I’m sure the bar has sufficient insurance to protect against situations like this,” Reece said.

  “I’d just die if they had to close down on account of me,” Holly said, sniffling a little.

  “Holly.” Melissa waited until her friend looked at her. “My brother and father are damn good lawyers. Neither one of them are going to let any Douglas get their hands on another piece of this town, least of all shut down a major hub that provides the people of Fairplay the only entertainment we have.”

  Holly looked at her nodded. “You’re right. I’m sorry I ruined everyone’s night.”

  Melissa laughed. “Are you kidding? That was the most fun I’ve had since…well, forever.” She reached over and hugged her friend. “Remind me to bring you along the next time I’m trying to give a five-year-old his shots.”

  Holly laughed and Melissa jumped down from Reece’s truck so Holly could scoot out of the middle seat. She hugged her friend again. “Thanks for sticking up for me.”

  “Don’t let Savannah get to you. You have a good man there.” She nodded towards the truck where Reece was sitting behind the wheel, waiting. “Have a wonderful time and stop by later this weekend to tell me all.” Her friend reached up and kissed her cheek.

  Melissa stood on the sidewalk and watched her race up the outside steps towards the apartment that sat over the bookstore.

  “That’s some woman,” Reece said when she got back in the truck.

  “Tell me about it. I’ve never see a man punch that hard, let alone a five-foot fairy princess.”

  Reece laughed. “That description suits her.”

  She smiled. “I’ll make sure to never piss her off.” They both laughed.

  Chapter Ten

  It wasn’t until he pulled up in front of Missy’s place that he felt the nerves kick in again. He knew what he wanted, but wasn’t sure she was going to invite him in again.

  He glanced over at her and saw that her pretty dress was ruined, covered in dried blood. Now that it was a darker red, he didn’t feel the wave of dizziness come over him like he had in the sheriff’s office. She probably wants a shower and her bed, he thought.

  She turned in her seat and looked over at him. “Well, are you going to come in or do I have promise you some carrot cake and coffee?” She smiled.

  He laughed. “I was just trying to figure a way in the door. But carrot cake does sound good.” He reached over and pulled her across the front seat of his truck. Then he was kissing her and all his nerves fell away.

  “I may need another shower,” she said, pulling back and looking down at her dress. “Not to mention a new dress.”

  “It’s a shame too. I really liked this one.” He got out and pulled her out his side of the truck, helping her down.

  “Yeah, but I bet I didn’t spend as much on this dress as Savannah spent on her outfit tonight.”

  He chuckled as they walked through her front door. He followed her back towards the kitchen where she pulled a large pan from the refrigerator. “How big of a piece would you like?” She took down two plates and turned to him.

  “You made it?” he asked.

  “Yes, my first attempt. Holly said it was so good, she wants me to make some for her shop next week.”

  There were two pieces cut out of the cake already; it looked so good that his mouth started watering.

  “I’ll get this. Why don’t you go change out of that dress.” He nodded to her ruined outfit.

  “Oh, I’d almost forgotten. You did wonderful in the sheriff’s office earlier.” She set the plates down and turned to go. “There’s milk in the fridge. For some reason carrot cake and milk go hand in hand.”

  By the time he had cut two pieces of cake and poured two glasses of milk, she’d walked back into the room. Her hair was wet and she was wearing tight tan yoga pants with a white tank top. His mouth watered for a second time since walking through her door.

  “So, Savannah said that you two had something going.” she said while taking a nibble on her cake.

  He almost choked on the piece of cake he’d shoved into his mouth. When he finally could breathe again, he realized she was smiling.

  “Don’t worry, you’re secret is safe with me.”

  “God.” He took a drink of milk to help swallow the knot that was in his throat. “It’s not like that.” Words just wouldn’t come to him. “Really.”

  She just chuckled and took another bite of her cake.

  “I ran into her at the Grocery Stop. That was it. Nothing else happened. I swear, Missy.”

  “Reece.” She waited until he looked into her eyes. “You don’t have to explain anything to me. We both came into this knowing each other’s pasts. Besides, I trust you.”

  He was floored. He could see in her eyes that she did trust him, and that was something he hadn’t had in a long time. Since his brother had been around.

  “Is that what the problem was tonight?” he asked, cutting himself another piece of cake.

  “Sort of.” She leaned back and looked at her empty plate. “She said things. I said things. Then Holly clocked her.” She chuckled.

  “Well, I’m sorry if I was the cause of it.”

  “No, Savannah was just being Savannah.” She picked up her plate and walked it to the sink and then leaned back against the countertop. He left his second piece of cake untouched and wrapped his arms around her waist. She felt so good.

  “I’m glad you showed up tonight.” He leaned down and placed a kiss on her lips.

  “Mmmm, me too.” She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. When the kiss heated, he hoisted her up onto the countertop as her legs wrapped around him.

  His hands snaked under the cotton tank top and just the feel of her silk
y soft skin had him moaning with delight. He pressed up against her core and moved gently, giving her pleasure.

  When he pulled the tank top from her, she arched back, giving him full access to her exposed skin. He lapped up every inch, enjoying the fact that her nipples puckered for his view. When he returned to her lips, she started unbuttoning his cotton shirt and then pulled it from his shoulders. When she slowly dragged her nails across his skin, he almost lost it. He started yanking on the yoga pants and cursed them when they were hard to get off her.

  She giggled and helped. “I love how tight these are on, but they do take some work to get on and off.” She tossed them aside and his mouth went dry. She was sitting on her countertop completely naked, and he realized he was starved again.

  She reached over and undid his belt buckle, pulled his belt off, and started tugging at his jeans. He didn’t want to waste time yanking off his dress boots, so instead, he moved back between her legs and took her mouth in a heated kiss.

  She responded with a moan as he ran his hands over every inch of her. When she rubbed her chest over his bare skin, he lost all control and plunged into her right there as she sat on the kitchen counter.

  Melissa didn’t want to move. Yet the cold tile of the countertop was making it hard to get comfortable.

  “I’ll move in a minute,” she heard him say against her neck.

  She chuckled. “S’okay.” Her head rested against his shoulder, where she’d placed it after having one of the best orgasms she’d ever experienced. “I kinda like it right here.”

  “If my jeans weren’t around my ankles, I’d carry you into the bedroom.”

  She laughed again.

  “What?” He leaned his head to the side to look over at her.

  She shook her head. “I can just image how we look right now.”

  He chuckled and rested his head back against her skin. “Don’t get me started again.” His voice was husky, causing a wave of heat to travel throughout her body. Her legs were still thrown around his hips and he was still inside her. She tested the waters and moved just an inch and felt him respond, so she moved again.

  “Missy,” he warned.

  “Hmmm?” She ignored him and moved again.

  “I had hoped to have the second round in the comfort of your bed,” he said against her skin, and then he nibbled his way up to her ear, causing goose bumps to rise all over her body.

  She arched back, giving him access. Her fingers gripped his thick hair as she moaned and enjoyed what his mouth was doing to her.

  “Yes,” she said, holding him close. “I love the feel of your mouth on me.”

  His hips rocked slightly as he began to move in her again. Her legs automatically wrapped around his hips, pulling him as close as she could.

  Their hearts beat against one another, and moans turned into cries as the excitement escalated. Finally, she felt herself falling just as he cried her name.

  “I need another shower.” She giggled as he stepped back and handed her the clothes from the floor.

  “How about I join you.” He looked over his shoulder. “Then maybe we can have some more of that cake as we watch a movie.”

  She smiled and nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”

  When they had finally settled down in the bedroom for the night, her flat-screen television playing an old John Wayne movie, she felt like she could finally relax.

  Less than an hour later, she was woken by Reece twitching. He’d woken her like this the first night he’d stayed at her place. Now, however, he started talking as well. She listened to him beg his father to stop hitting him and when she couldn’t stand it any longer, she reached over and gently woke him, then snuggled down against his chest when he pulled her close, like he had done that first night.

  The tears silently leaked from her eyes as she lay there unable to sleep, worried about the little boy who had to beg to not be hit.

  The next morning, she woke early and decided to try one of the cinnamon roll recipes that Holly had given her. She tried to keep the noise to a minimum, but baking was a messy and loud experience for her. When Reece walked into the kitchen, looking damn sexy in just his boxers, she almost dropped the pan of rolls she’d just pulled from the oven.

  “Something smells good in here.” He walked over and waited until she set the hot pan on the counter, then leaned in for a kiss that had her wishing she’d stayed in bed with him. “Mmmm, someone tastes good, too.”

  She smiled. “Well, every good chef knows you have to taste your food. I just need to ice these. I’ve also made ham and cheese omelets.”

  “Wow,” he said, looking at the spread she had laid out for them. “What have I done to deserve all this?” He smiled.

  She reached up on her toes and kissed him, feeling her heart bind a little. “You don’t need to do anything to deserve this. Just be who you are.”

  When they sat at the table, she watched him dig into his omelet while her food sat in front of her, almost forgotten.

  “Reece, you told me your father was hard on you.” She twisted her hands under the table.

  He looked up at her and frowned a little, and then he nodded. “Yeah, he was a hard man to get along with.” He shrugged his shoulders and went back to eating. “But Ryan and I dealt with it.”

  “But you still have nightmares about it.” She waited and saw the weariness creep into his eyes.

  “Yeah.” He set his fork down. “I’ve never stopped having them. Ryan used to quiet me before I woke our father. I’m sorry if I woke you.” He reached over and took her hand.

  She shook her head. “It’s not a problem. I was just worried.” She squeezed his hand.

  He looked across the table at her. “You know, I’ve never talked to someone else about it before. Other than my brother.”

  “I’m here, if you ever want to talk about it.”

  “It’s kind of weird. Saying it out loud doesn’t take away any of the hurt, but somehow it makes me feel better. Not that I want pity.” He looked at her. “But I don’t see pity in your eyes.”

  She prayed that the tears that had been building up behind her eyes stayed there. “No?”

  He shook his head. “No, I see something else.”

  “If I didn’t already know that your father was dead, I’d send Holly after him.”

  He laughed. “I’m not sure my old man could have handled a spitfire like her.” They laughed.

  Chapter Eleven

  When Reece arrived at Missy’s door the next evening to pick her up, his palms were sweaty, and he couldn’t stop the butterflies in his stomach from jumping. When he’d been getting dressed for the dinner with Missy’s parents, he’d realized with a jolt that it was the first dinner he’d ever gone to like this.

  Then she opened the door and his nerves fell away. She was worth all of the discomfort he would feel during the evening. The simple gray dress hugged the curves that he loved. Her sand- colored hair was tied back, accenting the beauty of her face. Her blue eyes sparkled as she looked at him.

  “Well, don’t you look handsome?” She gasped happily when he pulled the small bouquet of flowers out from around his back.

  “Your beauty outshines these by far.” He smiled when she looked at him.

  “Oh.” She smiled and buried her face in them, then reached across the doorway and pulled him in for a kiss. “I’ll just go put these in some water, and then we can walk over.”

  He nodded and followed her inside. His mind was quickly thinking of a million ways to convince her to stay and let him peel that dress off her, but he knew that none of them were good enough. So he stood in the small hallway and waited for her to come back from the kitchen.

  “Ready?” she asked when she came back. He nodded and held out his arm.

  They walked the short distance to her parents’ house. The sun had yet to set, and the warmth of the day was quickly making his new dress jacket and dark pants uncomfortable.

  When they arrived, she pulled open the fro
nt door and called out, “Mom, Dad, we’re here.” He stepped into a house that looked like it had come right off the cover of Better Homes and Gardens. Nothing was out of place in the living room and as they walked towards the voices coming from the back of the house, he noticed how clean everything was.

  Missy’s place was clean, but it was nothing compared to how her parents’ place looked. He preferred the more lived-in look. He was starting to wonder if he would end up embarrassing himself by knocking something over or setting a drink down without using a coaster.

  “Back here,” someone called out. When they stepped out onto the back patio, he was glad to see that Grant and Alex were already there, along with the sheriff and Jamella.

  The Holton’s were some of the nicest people in town, but that didn’t stop him from worrying. He shook everyone’s hands and removed his jacket when Grant offered to hang it up. Instantly he felt the cool breeze hit his shirt and relaxed a little.

  By the end of the wonderful meal, he realized he’d been a fool to worry. He’d hadn’t attended a family dinner that felt so comfortable since he’d dined at his cousins’ place when he’d been a teenager.

  They had sat out on the back porch talking and drinking beer until her father was done grilling up the meat. Then they’d gone inside and had eaten at the large table which was made up fancier than any restaurant he’d ever been to. After eating more food than he’d eaten in a long time, they’d all gone back outside and chatted some more. He’d really felt relaxed and at home with everyone.

  He’d laughed more that night than he had in years. He listened to stories of Missy and Grant’s childhood and wished more than anything that he’d been a part of a family that had actually cared and loved one another.

  As he walked her home, he wished more than anything that he could track his brother down.

  “You’re awful quiet,” she said, tugging on his hand.