by M. Merin
“McKay, it occurs to me, you were here the morning the warrant was served?” He asks Connal.
“I live here,” He states.
“We bought the property together,” Jake adds.
“My truck will need to be repaired,” Michaels says after a long pause, still appraising us. “And her SUV isn’t drivable right now, looks like she had most of her belongings in it.”
“I’ll get her vehicle towed today and you just bring your truck to the Garage tomorrow,” Connal easily replies. “Charles can handle the repairs and the painting.”
Nodding, the Sheriff opens the passenger door, slamming it almost instantly when Tabby starts yelling.
Waiting for silence, he reopens the door and gently tugs her out.
“Ah, ah, ah,” He puts his thumb over her lips when she opens her mouth again. “One word and I’m pressing charges. Nod or shake your head to answer me. Last time I’m asking: Do you need medical attention?”
Good thing Tabby’s hands are still cuffed because she looks like she’d hit him again. Finally, she exhales and shakes her head.
“Good, now, let me…” He reaches down behind her and releases the cuffs before warning her; “Be careful about your state of mind anytime you get behind the wheel in the future.”
“Tabby, come inside?” Jake immediately asks and without a word, she grabs her purse from the Sheriff and nearly plows me down instead of walking around me. I just shrug at the Sheriff, thank him, and follow in her wake.
“Y’all have a good day now,” Michaels calls, his voice laced with sarcasm.
Approaching the porch, Connal reaches out for my hand.
“Let’s get this over with,” He smiles at me. And indeed, Tabby has already started in on Jake about kicking my ‘ass to the curb’. They both turn when Connal and I enter; she looks furiously at our hands intertwined, while Jake walks towards me and kisses me.
Passionately. Intensely. My knees start to buckle as the stress leaves my body, luckily Connal has moved up behind me. I arch my neck to the side to give him better access then Jake’s mouth slowly moves down to the other side. Connal quickly turns my head, giving me a quick peck.
I moan before I remember. My eyes fly open to see Tabby staring at me wide-eyed and her jaw hanging open.
“Baby?” Jake draws back from me, giving me his sweetest smile. “Why don’t you and Connal go get the SUV towed and I’ll talk to Tabby.” I reach my fingertip up to touch the area his dimple usually appears; taking the hint, he widens his grin.
“I love you,” I whisper, looking once more to Tabby before I go to grab my wallet and keys. Tossing Connal his T-shirt, he puts that on and grabs his cut.
Connal
“Today’s been interesting,” I laugh.
“Barely half over,” Charlie smiles back. “Do you think they’ll be okay? I know how much Jake cares about her.”
I shrug, no way to know.
“Wonder what she’s doing here?”
“Oh, shit!” Charlie looks at me wide-eyed. “I talked to Emma yesterday, I asked her about her doctor and she told me that her doctor was retiring. That the new OB/GYN was due any day!”
“Oh, shit is right,” I shake my head at the timing. “Guess Jake will start listening to his voicemails after this. Though technically, he did ask her what was holding her back home.”
“She said she looked forward to getting to know me better,” Charlie’s head is all the way back and she’s staring straight up. “So, Tabby, my ‘new’ grandparents, Jake’s Gramp, your brother, Mack, Mrs. Riley, Rogers, and the MC.”
“We haven’t been shy about it anywhere we’ve eaten, Baby Girl,” I grab her hand. “Hardly consider it a secret around town anymore, but I know what you mean about Jake and Tabby. We’ll find a way to help him through this, okay?”
“Of course.”
Over an hour later, we’ve moved Tabitha’s truck into the Garage and Charlie thoughtfully grabbed a duffle bag and phone charger that were on the passenger seat. Entering the house, Jake is on the couch; looking exhausted.
“Where is she?” Charlie crosses to him and straddles on his lap.
“Guest room,” He responds, pulling her into his embrace. “I need you, Charlie. I know we have to talk, but…”
“Bedroom,” Charlie whispers; giggling and grabbing his shoulders as he quickly stands. I cross to the fridge for a beer before getting comfortable on my favorite corner of the couch; content to let them have their time together.
“Where’s my truck?”
I turn my head to see Tabitha watching me, I was pretty zoned out not to hear her get so close.
“At my Garage. Charlie grabbed that bag for you,” I indicate it sitting near the door. “You really hit the Sheriff?”
“He deserved it,” She answers and looks like she’ll say more until we both hear Jake yelling out his release. Looking from the direction of our room back to me, she starts to open her mouth.
“Do you ask any of your other siblings for details?” I cut her off and she blushes. “This works for us.”
“Gramps found out didn’t he?” I give her a nod in reply to her question. “He was furious when I announced where I was moving. Up until Blaine’s wedding, I still wasn’t sure if I’d take a position in San Francisco or here; but I really liked Charlie and figured I’d give small town living a whirl.”
“Your grandfather doesn’t want word to get out, the all-important family name and all. Want a beer?” I ask when I go for one.
“Have anything stronger?” She laughs and I point her to the right cabinet.
“Tabby,” Charlie’s voice comes from the hallway.
“I’m still processing this, Charlie,” Tabitha quickly replies, cutting her off. I move to stand in front of Charlie as Jake wraps an arm around her, cradling her stomach in his palm without thinking.
“HOLY SHIT!” Jake’s sister doesn’t miss the caress. “Is she pregnant?”
“Weren’t telling anyone yet,” Jake acknowledges it. “Guess you’ll be her doctor now, in any case?”
Tabby shoots back her drink.
“Are there any other bombshells any of you want to drop on me? Just fucking tell me now!” She explodes, staring at each of us in turn as the silence stretches.
“I was the one who broke the vase when we were kids, I always felt bad that you got blamed,” Jake says in a low voice.
“You? I was sure it was one of the maids,” She frowns at him. “That’s why I stopped insisting it wasn’t me.”
“Sorry, Tabs,” He smirks at her.
“Do you have any idea whose child it is?” Tabby turns to Charlie.
After a moment, Charlie nods. My eyes flip to Jake and he looks as confused as I am.
“Theirs.” Our wife replies firmly. I smile as I reach to place my hand on her stomach, below Jake’s.
“Ours.” Jake and I say, looking back at Tabitha.
Epilogue
Michaels
Wishing I had slept more than a couple hours on my day off, I shake off the happenings of the past twenty-four hours and walk into Roy’s Diner to find it nearly deserted.
“You ever go home, Margie?” I call out to get her attention and she waves to indicate the coffee machine is brewing fresh liquid bliss. The diner is empty except for young Joe Madda, wearing his Northern Grizzlie’s Probie patch, down at the end of the counter.
“Hey, Sheriff,” He nods to me.
“Still going ahead with that?” I shake my head at him. Heard he did well on his GED exam so I picked him up a couple months ago. Talked to him about trade schools, community college, or the Military; that I’d help however I could.
Yes, sir,” Joe replies, looking back down to his meal. I handed him over to Flint, so I can’t help thinking that anything that happens to, or because of him, will be on me.
Taking a seat in the booth furthest from him, I wait on Margie.
“I put your usual order in, Sheriff,” She addresses me as she pours my c
offee.
“You see any newcomers in here today?” I ask her, getting an appraising glance in return.
“Guessing you’re talking about Jake’s little sister since I don’t imagine you care about Dorothy’s Aunt Bea.” She rolls her eyes at me. “Any reason, you never just ask me straight out?”
“Just making sure you’re staying sharp,” I laugh at getting busted, again.
“She’s taking over Will’s practice,” My sometimes-spy informs me; surprising the shit out of me.
“She’s a doctor?”
“Here just in time, too; from the glow I saw on Charlie’s face the other day,” Margie adds. “Emma’s about half-way through…” Margie rattles on, listing the pregnant women in town.
From her license, I only knew she was pushing thirty, from Massachusetts, and lies about her weight. Every inch of her rounded hips and thighs were highlighted in those jeans she had on; fucking jeans that probably cost more than all of mine combined.
“She’s a pretty little thing, isn’t she?” Marge asks me suddenly and I nod; remembering the fire in Tabitha’s eyes when she slapped me. I had it coming, but man; I never saw HER coming.
Stayed Tuned For More…
Already out:
Jasper: Northern Grizzlies (Book 1)
Flint: Northern Grizzlies (Book 2)
Gunner: Northern Grizzlies (Book 3)
Coming soon: Michaels: Northern Grizzlies (Book 5)
If you liked this, and even if you just want to leave constructive criticism,
could you please leave a review?
Alternatively, my email is [email protected]
my Facebook page is M. Merin,
and my newsletter is http://eepurl.com/dpHl9T
Thank you, M