A Woman to Die For

by Erin Wade

  Katie had reneged on her decision to desert Brandt Technologies. The board had begged her to stay and run the company.

  David’s sell off of his stock took him out of the business equation and out of Katie’s life, so she had agreed to return as chief operating officer if the board agreed to pull company stock from the market and return the business to her as a privately held company. It had taken her a week to repair the damage done by lesser geniuses who had bungled her original program for F2F.

  Shay was glad that everything was finally settled and calm in their life. David had paid off his gambling debts, but Shay suspected he was falling back into his old habits. Once an addict always an addict, she thought.

  Ansloe had gone to prison for his attacks on Katie and Shay swearing he’d acted alone.

  The only question Shay hadn’t resolved was who had sent her the steamy, sexy messages on F2F.

  Shay’s doorbell rang. She pulled her luggage to the door and opened it. “Mrs. Brandt, let me get that for you.” The chauffeur took the handles of her luggage and headed for the limo as Shay locked the door. She was excited about spending a month in Italy.

  ##

  David sat in the Admirals Club, drinking scotch on the rocks while he waited for his flight home after the medical convention. He thumbed through the latest issue of Forbes magazine that had just hit the newsstands. On page twelve he spied a beautiful photo of Katie standing beside a jeep.

  He had no animosity toward Katie. Although she could have made his life a living hell and eaten up all the money he’d gotten with lawyers’ fees, she refused to file any charges against him. Grafton had pulled strings and gotten the authorities to drop all criminal charges against him, and he had settled with the insurance companies in exchange for their agreement to drop all charges of fraud. He had turned state’s evidence against Glencove and Sandifer, resulting in the closing of the notorious hospital and Sandifer going to prison.

  David returned his attention to the article. He wondered what Katie was doing with a jeep and began reading the article.

  “Brandt Technologies billionaire Dr. Katie Brandt discusses her latest brainchild,” the article began. “Dr. Brandt, who is the sole owner of Brandt Technologies, is working with the United States government to develop safer ways to interact with our enemies.”

  She can’t be the sole owner, David thought as he pulled out his phone and called his stockbroker.

  “Who purchased the stock I sold in Brandt Technologies?” David asked his broker.

  “Katie,” the man answered. “She had a buy order for all Brandt Technologies stock that was offered for sale. The minute you offered it, she bought it. A big mistake on your part, by the way. The stock soared past its all-time high when she took over the company and took it private again. Of course, there’s no longer any public stock in the company. Just the private stock she owns. Can you count to a trillion, David?”

  David had a sickening feeling he’d been duped somehow. He thanked the broker and ended the call. He wasn’t worried. He’d walked away with plenty of money, and the salaries he and Shay knocked down would support the lifestyle he enjoyed. He knew his gambling addiction was out of control again and promised himself he’d get help before Shay found out.

  He turned the magazine page and almost threw up. The headlines trumpeted, “A Forbes Scoop: Tech Billionaire Katie Brandt just married Dr. Shaylor Copeland.”

  A gorgeous photo of the two women in their wedding dresses feeding each other cake made David gag. No wonder Shay had declined his offer to go with him to the medical convention.

  ##

  Katie snuggled against Shay as their jet taxied down the runway. “I’ve never been happier in my life,” she murmured. “I love you so much.”

  “And I love you, Katie Brandt.” Shay leaned down and kissed lips she knew she’d dream about for the rest of her life. “I’m looking forward to having your undivided attention for an entire month.”

  “Um, I don’t know,” Katie teased. “You know I am a genius capable of coming up with ingenious ways to torment you.” She nibbled at Shay’s lower lip. “And please you. I might be more woman than you can handle.”

  Shay laughed. “That is an established fact. I’ll take my chances.”

  “Thank you for taking my last name,” Katie said. “It means a lot to me.”

  “Honey, you can call me any name you want.” Shay kissed her again. “Just as long as you call me.”

  The plane lifted into the air, and they leaned back against the headrests. “I think I’m going to like jetting around the country with you,” Shay admitted.

  “I hope so,” Katie whispered. “Because I hate being away from you.”

  “Show me the Italian villa again,” Shay said.

  Katie opened her laptop and began to type. “Open your laptop,” she instructed. “I’m sending you the link to it.”

  Shay opened her laptop as a message from Katie dinged into Messenger.

  She clicked it open and stared at it for a minute. It read, “Think of me slowly straddling you as you sit in your desk chair, kissing you deeply, our full bottom lips moving against each other. Tongues searching, seeking, exploring. I catch your lip between my teeth and pull gently, releasing it reluctantly.”

  Shay could feel the heat moving up her neck and onto her face. “You were the one,” she exclaimed. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I didn’t want us to get too deeply involved until the divorce was final,” Katie replied. “But I did want to keep you thinking about what it would be like to be with me.”

  “That was all I could think about.” Shay laughed, leaning over to kiss her wife one more time.

  Katie slipped her hand behind Shay’s neck pulling their lips together. “There’s a bedroom on this plane, and we have plenty of time before we reach Italy . . . so, what do you think? Of course, we’ll have to convince Bear to sleep on the floor.”

  Shay blushed. “I’m not a member of the Mile-High Club.”

  “Neither am I,” Katie admitted. “Shall we become members together, Dr. Shay?”

  “Mm-hmm,” Shay hummed as she followed her wife toward the back of the plane. She had already learned that Katie Brandt could be just as inventive in her lovemaking as she was in her software designing. No matter what the future had in store for them, Shay knew that Katie Brandt was a woman to die for.

  The End

  Thank you for reading my book. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it for you. If you did, please leave me a review on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086PBWQ68

  Learn more about Erin Wade

  and her books at

  www.erinwade.us

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  Barbed Wire

  Mardi Gras Ghost – A Java Jarvis Thriller #2

  BARBED WIRE

  A bit of the history behind “Barbed Wire”

  Below are the first ten chapters of “Barbed Wire” a lesbian thriller set in early Texas history. Women were forced to be many things to survive in the old west, but no one is tougher than a Texas woman.

  My great-great-grandparents settled a large area of raw red dirt in West Texas in the late 1800’s after the Texas Revolution and much of this story is based on their adventures in the brave new world called
Texas.

  I started writing this book in my early twenties. It has taken me this long to write the ending I needed.

  The novel has all the usual Erin Wade action, adventure, and romance with an ending that will leave you saying, “We Have Come a Long Way Baby.”

  Ride this one through to an ending that will have you slapping your hat against your thigh and cheering “Yahoo! I never saw that coming.”

  I hope you enjoy this preview

  Thank you,

  Erin

  Chapter 1

  Nelson Jouett shifted in his saddle as he surveyed his kingdom. He was third generation Jouett. The third male to inherit the ownership of the million-acre ranch known as Estelline. The ranch and closest town were named after his great-great grandmother. Classie Estelline.

  The endless herd of Hereford cattle, mingled with Texas Longhorns, dotted the landscape as far as the eye could see. Nelson smiled to himself as he thought about his wife Sarah. Any day now Sarah would give him an heir. A son to carry on the Jouett name and Estelline’s legacy.

  Nelson was almost forty when pretty Sarah Langley entered his life. The new schoolteacher in the one-room schoolhouse, Sarah had attracted the attention of every single male within fifty miles. Nelson never understood why Sarah had chosen him to marry, but he thanked God at least once a day for her. Soon he would have everything a man could want: a beautiful wife, a vast ranching empire and an heir.

  He turned his horse toward the ranch house and let it take its time getting back to the barn. As he approached the house, he heard a scream that would wake the dead. He kicked his mount and raced to the front door. He was off his horse before the animal stopped.

  “It’s time,” Nell, the midwife informed him as another scream ripped through the room.

  Nelson ran into the bedroom where another neighbor was working with his wife. Sarah’s blonde hair was spread on the pillow and perspiration covered her beautiful face. Nelson caught her hand. “I’m here.” He bent and kissed her damp forehead.

  “You need to wait in the other room,” Nell commanded as she entered carrying a wash pan of boiling water. Sarah screamed again and Nelson scurried from the room.

  ##

  Nelson paced the floor as his wife fought to deliver their first-born. He knew it would be a boy. He’d name him after his grandfather Morgan Jouett.

  He paced faster trying to ignore the sounds of Sarah’s pain. He promised himself that Morgan would be their only child. He’d not have Sarah go through this ordeal again for anything.

  Nelson lost track of the hours as the sun disappeared from the heavens then peaked above the horizon bringing a new day. He stopped pacing. Sarah’s screams had ceased. Nell walked into the room. A small bundle in her arms.

  “You have a—” Nelson pulled back the baby’s blanket then smiled. “A son. I have a son, Nell.”

  Nell nodded and handed the infant to him. Nelson had never seen anything so tiny. Morgan had his mother’s blonde hair and Nelson hoped he would have her blue eyes. He kissed his baby on the forehead.

  “Sarah?” Nelson started toward the bedroom, but Nell caught his arm and shook her head.

  Nelson shook off her hand and rushed into the room where his wife was waiting. Only she wasn’t waiting. The only thing that remained of his beautiful, wonderful Sara was a shell.

  “We did everything we could,” Nell muttered. “I’m so sorry Nelson.”

  Nelson stared in silence at his dead wife. He had no words for his grief. Morgan mewled in his arms. “He’s hungry,” Nell reached for the baby.

  “No,” Nelson clutched the infant to his chest. “I’ll take care of him. What do I feed him, Nell?”

  “Cow’s milk,” Nell whispered. “I’ll get some from the icehouse.”

  ##

  In the years that followed Sarah’s death Nelson clung to Morgan as if he were a part of Sarah he couldn’t bear to lose. He insisted on changing the baby’s diapers and bathing him. He refused to let anyone else take care of Morgan insisting on doing everything for the boy himself.

  When Morgan caught the measles, Nelson sat up around the clock with him constantly washing him and submerging him in ice water to get his fever down. He nursed his son through all the usual childhood colds and maladies. Morgan was the focal point of Nelson’s life.

  Chapter 2

  Nelson watched the sixteen-year old as Morgan raced his horse against the ranch hands. The boy rode as if he were attached to the horse. No one could outrun him. He laughed as he thundered to a halt in front of Nelson.

  “Father, I won.” He declared gleefully dismounting easily.

  “I believe you are part horse,” Shanghai Jones the ranch foreman said as Morgan’s brothers Wallace and Reid tugged at their brother.

  “Take us for a ride,” the boys begged their older brother.

  “Can we eat lunch first?” He laughed.

  Nelson watched his sons as they laughed and teased entering the house. He was pleased that they shared a strong bond.

  ##

  A year after Sarah’s death Nelson had married Amora a full-blood Comanche who worked for them as a cook. He couldn’t imagine loving anyone as much as he’d loved Sarah, so he’d selected Amora for convenience and began producing siblings for Morgan. Amora was the only mother Morgan had ever known. He loved her and she loved him.

  Nelson was devoted to Morgan. He cherished his son who looked so much like Sarah.

  Morgan’s blonde hair and blue eyes were already catching the attention of the local girls who flirted with him shamelessly at church and all community functions.

  Nelson took Morgan everywhere with him. He taught him all there was to know about ranching, riding, shooting, cattle raising and reading.

  During Morgan’s fifth year Amora was killed in a wagon accident. Morgan clung to his younger brothers and insisted on including them in everything he did.

  When Morgan was six Nelson brought a private tutor Christina Ryder from San Francisco to live at the ranch and teach Morgan. She married Nelson on Morgan’s ninth birthday. Morgan was happy. He loved Christina and she loved him as if he were her own son.

  The ranch hands were extremely fond of the boy and were always eager to teach him something new. Behind Nelson’s back they taught him to fight, play poker and drink whiskey. They teased him when he complained that he had no whiskers yet.

  “No woman’s gonna bed you boy,” Shanghai teased him. “Women like a man that looks like me.”

  “You look like a big hairy bear,” Morgan joked back. “Who’d want to climb into bed with a wooly-faced bear?”

  “It’s his mother’s fault,” Nelson would come to Morgan’s rescue. “She was fair skinned and not a hair on her body except for her head.”

  “Enjoy it while you can.” Shanghai grinned. “Shaving is a bitch. You’ll see.”

  ##

  When Morgan was eleven Christina received a telegram from her sister in San Francisco telling her that their mother was extremely ill.

  “I must go to her,” Christina informed Nelson.

  “I can’t leave in the middle of roundup and someone needs to take care of the boys,” Nelson fretted. “I don’t like you traveling alone.”

  “I’ll be just fine, dear,” she assured him. “I traveled here alone, and it was much wilder then.”

  Nelson begrudgingly agreed to the train trip. He and Morgan took Christina to the station.

  Christiana sent a telegram informing them she had arrived safely at her sister’s home and was looking after her mother.

  A second telegram arrived three months later. Morgan watched his father as he read the message. Nelson’s eyes darkened and he cleared his throat.

  “What does she say?” Morgan asked.

  “Her mother has passed away,” Nelson frowned. “Christina is with child and is concerned about making the trip home so she will stay in San Francisco until the baby is born. They have modern hospitals and doctors there. The delivery will be much easier
.”

  “I hope we get a sister,” Morgan beamed. “When will it come?”

  “In about six months,” Nelson said. “Let’s do everything we can to get the ranch in order so you and I can take the train to San Francisco and bring her home. She’ll need help with the baby.”

  Morgan and Nelson were obsessed with putting the ranch affairs in order so they could be gone a month. Shanghai assured them he was very capable of running things in their absence and riding herd on Wallace and Reid.

  A week before their departure a telegram was delivered to Nelson. Morgan danced around his father eager to hear what Christina had said.

  Darkness spread over Nelson’s face as he read the telegram. Morgan knew something was wrong.

  “Father, what’s wrong?” He reached for the telegram, but Nelson pulled it away from him.

  “She’s dead,” Nelson choked. “The baby came early. She died in childbirth.”

  ##

  Nelson threw himself into the ranch work, branding cattle, traveling a hundred miles to look at a new Hereford bull he’d heard about. He became withdrawn and sullen refusing to discuss Christina’s death.

  “Father,” Morgan handed him a glass of whiskey and sipped his own. “We need to talk about the baby.”

  Nelson looked at the twelve-year old boy in disbelief. “Baby?”

  “Yes,” Christina’s baby. Your baby. My brother or sister,” Morgan said. “Do you even know if it’s a boy or a girl? We should bring it home.”

  “No,” Nelson growled. “I don’t want it. It killed my wife.”

  “You’re being unreasonable,” Morgan argued. “My mother also died when I was born. Do you hate me?”

  “Dear lord no,” Nelson cried. “How could I not love you. You’re perfect. You look more like her every day. I loved you the minute they placed you in my arms.”

  “Then you shouldn’t—.”

  “No! And that’s final,” Nelson bellowed. “I never want to discuss this again.”