by Morgan Fox
Gracie sniffled discreetly. “She did?”
“Sure. She was new in town and was dealing with a lot of personal matters. She loved Temptation but feared something would screw it up if she stayed.”
Eyebrow arched, she asked, “Like what?”
“Family,” he said plainly. “Gracie, you need to keep your chin up and focus on your goals. Don’t stress over your family. Your life belongs to you, so live it how you want to.” Words he needed to remember for himself.
Smiling, she met his gaze. “You’re right, James. It’s just been hard to escape my thoughts as well as my brothers.”
“I’m sure it has been,” he replied, solemnly.
“It’s nice to talk with someone who understands my situation.” Her sweet, shy smile faded. “I’d appreciate it if this stayed between us. I really don’t want things to get out about me and my family.”
“I understand,” he told her, and he meant it.
* * * *
Gracie swallowed the rising bile in her throat as her eyes drifted over the dark-haired, tattooed man pushing his way into the diner, barking orders at the waitstaff. The second she heard his voice, she knew who it was. Nothing would ever shake the memory of Bullet threatening to rape her for payment due to him for the drugs he supplied to Adam.
Her fingers clasped the edge of the table as if she thought she’d spin right out of the room.
For a long, nerve-racking moment, Bullet eyed her. Her skin crawled, and all she wanted to do was run and hide. In that instant, she wished Stone was there to protect her. She didn’t really have anyone else, until James took hold of her hand. “Do you know that guy?”
Swallowing the acid rising in her throat, she whimpered, “Bullet. The drug dealer who said he’d hurt me if Adam didn’t pay him.”
He nodded once. “Don’t worry, Gracie,” he told her, rising from the booth. “Stay here.”
Her mouth went dry as she gripped his forearm tightly, her touch pleading. Fear for him rocked her foundation. “James?” She didn’t have to utter the words, but within the depths of her eyes, he clearly read her thoughts.
“I’ll be fine,” he whispered. He wrapped his hand over hers and squeezed gently before heading toward Bullet.
As he approached him, several of Bullet’s men trailed into the diner, laughing and carrying on, threatening the patrons.
“You need to leave,” James told him in a deep, husky tone, standing chest to chest with the heavily tattooed man.
James was a little over six feet tall and so was Bullet. The men squared off. Gracie felt the tiny hairs all over her body stand on end.
Bullet laughed. “I’ll leave when I’m good and ready,” he snapped, eyeing Gracie from around James. “I’ve got business with the lady.” He stared coldly. “If you can call her that.” He and his goons erupted into disruptive laughter, drawing all eyes toward them.
Gracie cringed. She detested that they had found her and feared that their arrival would reveal her secret. Why had they wasted their time coming for her? Did Bullet really think that using her would do anything to get what was owed to him? Damn her stupid brothers for dragging her down with them.
“You’re not welcome in here.” James blocked him as he tried to step in her direction. “Take your friends with you when you leave.”
Bullet’s top lip curled into a snarl. “Who the hell are you?” he barked.
Calmly, James murmured, “I’m the cop that’s about to put you and your crew in jail if you don’t leave now.”
Bullet glared at her, and a chill shot up her spine.
“She can’t stay in here forever, Cop,” he said with vehemence.
James’s shoulders broadened, and his posture went ramrod stiff. His one hand balled into a tight fist at his side, while the other rested on the bulge at the small of his back. He was carrying his weapon. “Do I really need to haul your ass in, Reginald ‘Bullet’ Norez?”
His gaze sprung quickly in James’s direction. “Oh yes, I know who you are. You’d be wise to keep your nose clean in my town,” James warned. He nudged his chin in the direction of the six men standing at Bullet’s back. “Please pass that along to your boys.”
A wicked snarl tugged at his lip. “I’ll be sure and do that,” he said, his eyes dancing toward Gracie. The menacing stare left her cold and fearful. Slowly, they retreated from the diner.
Letting out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, she took hold of James’s wrist and asked, “You know Bullet?”
James nodded. “Yep, from high school…until he dropped out. He was an asshole then, and he’s an even bigger asshole now.” He stared at her intently. “Gracie, I don’t want you going home alone tonight. Let me take you home and check things out.”
She nodded without hesitation. The last thing she wanted was to be alone. The idea of him being with her settled her nerves just a little. “I’d appreciate that, James.”
With a crooked smile, he said, “Good. I’d feel better knowing you’re safe, but before we head out I need to call this in to the station.”
James unclipped his cell phone and walked to the far side of the counter. She couldn’t hear what he was saying, but she assumed it was full of details about the type of person Bullet was and the potential for trouble in town.
She hadn’t been in Temptation for more than a day, and the darkness from her life had found her. Resting her head in her hands, she prayed this was not a glimpse of what was lurking in her future.
* * * *
Gun in hand, James slowly opened the door to her hotel room and began checking for intruders. The small room was easy to cover, checking under the bed, in the closet, behind the doors, and in the bathtub. The room was clear.
“No one’s here,” he whispered, turning to see her right behind him.
“Are you sure?” she asked, even though she had been with him every step.
He offered her a reassuring smile. “Yes, Gracie, I’m sure.” It killed him to see her so frightened.
She rubbed her arms like she was cold, and before he realized what he was doing, he pulled her into his embrace. She trembled as he held her. “Gracie, it’s okay,” he said softly against her ear.
“No, it’s not,” she cried. “It will never be okay.” Her arms came around him, holding him close.
He didn’t know what to say to her, didn’t know what he was supposed to do. The air was being sucked out of the room by a force he couldn’t see. Everything around them fell to darkness. All he could sense was her. The intoxicating scent of her perfume invaded his nostrils and made his entire body burn, his blood boil.
She sobbed hard against him, whimpering with such abandon.
“Gracie, look at me,” he demanded, his voice stern and sharp. “I want you to look at me.”
Slowly, her gaze came up and locked on his. He couldn’t move as she faced him. Her vulnerable stare had his breaths falling shallow, his body warming as he kept her close.
How can I feel this way when everything around her is crashing at her feet?
“Don’t cry, Gracie. Please don’t cry.”
“Those men could kill me, James. They could come back and kill me, gang-rape me.” She shook harder, the sobs pouring out of her. “I’ll never escape. I’ll never get away.”
“Yes, you will,” he told her, trying his best to keep his voice upbeat and positive, but he knew she couldn’t hear him over her own raging thoughts and cries. He had to get her to hear him, had to show her that life was not always shit, even if there were speed bumps along the way. She should know that based on his own experiences with her brother. He had to convince her that she could stand on her own and that she could do it without her selfish brothers sucking the life from her.
Without further thought, he cupped her face in his hands and pressed his mouth to hers. The passion that poured out of him stunned even him. As his lips crushed over hers, her sobbing ceased. The way her mouth tasted reminded him of peppermint candies he’d enjoye
d as a child.
Lost, he pulled her close. Her hands came up behind him, and her fingers dug deep into the muscles of his back. She clung to him passionately, eagerly, as if her need for him was as great as his for her. Her greedy mouth and savory moan tempted him to deepen the kiss.
A shiver racked him from head to toe. He couldn’t believe he was kissing her and she was kissing him back. Her bold, intense mouth made his body harden against his will.
Then his thoughts began to clear, the haze of desire fading slowly. This was only supposed to distract her, not turn into a one-night stand. He had to take control before they did something they would most likely regret.
Taking a deep breath, he reluctantly stepped away from her.
All coherent thoughts left him as he held her wide-eyed stare. Finding his voice, he told her, “It’s late. I left my card on the nightstand.” He turned and reached for the door. “Please call me if you need anything.”
Opening the door, he came face to face with Stone McGraw. With a surprised expression staring back at him, James stepped to the side, letting Stone brush past him.
“Gracie?” He went to her, looking her over as if she’d been hurt. She appeared comfortable in his embrace. His touch seemed familiar and welcome. “What the hell happened?” he barked. “Why are you crying?”
Gracie turned to James. “Thank you for bringing me here. I’ll be okay now.” She returned her watery gaze back to Stone.
He was no longer needed, that much was clear.
A wave of jealousy slammed into him, squeezing his chest so tight he struggled to inhale. He forced his gaze away, stunned by the sight of Stone comforting her. Silently, he closed the door at his back and walked to his truck still sitting in the diner parking lot. Hopping inside, he gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white from tension.
Settling himself on the seat, he closed his eyes, and the moment he did her face popped into his mind. As he breathed, her sweet scent assaulted him, filling his nostrils. He placed his cowboy hat on the seat beside him and ran his hands through his hair, shaking the matted strands loose.
Puzzled by his one-track mind, he stared out the windshield of his truck and wondered if the man standing in her hotel room was her friend or lover. What an awkward moment it had been as he stood there watching them embrace. As he studied them, he saw a connection he had personally desired. His first glimpse of her had made him yearn for her, amber-rich hair and sky-blue eyes. She was breathtaking, so feminine and sweet.
Even knowing that she’d sold her body hadn’t deterred him from thinking about how much he’d like to show her what a man who truly desired her would be like. His heart thumped oddly against his ribs, and his belly churned with a fluttering absence. He knew that she and Stone had been intimate and that only made him even more jealous and a little pissed off.
Staring at the full moon sky, he breathed, “Son of a bitch.”
Chapter Six
Stone studied Gracie, wondering what the heck was going on. The charming woman he’d spent time with had been reduced to a heap of emotional crap. His eyes darted to the closing door, his chest filling with air as the man he knew desired her left the room.
What the fuck did he say to her?
Patience was not Stone’s strong suit. “So what happened?” He couldn’t fight the real question burning in his mind. “Why was Deputy Ryan here?”
Sniffling, she wiggled herself out of his arms. “Look, it’s late and I’m tired. Please don’t worry about it. It’s nothing.”
He frowned. “Nothing? Did he say something to you? Did they decide not to give you the job?” Why would they do that? Why won’t she talk to me?
Standing in front of the curtain-drawn window, she whimpered, “No, that’s not it.”
He cleared the distance between them in a few strides, gripped her arms, and spun her to face him. His hands clasped her shoulders. “Stop avoiding me, Gracie. Spill it,” he said sternly. “What happened tonight that has you so upset?”
As he stared into her eyes, he knew she was hiding something significant, and for whatever reason, she didn’t want to share it with him.
She sure as shit shared it with James Ryan.
His teeth clamped down hard. How was it that the deputy was privy to her secrets but the man who’d spent more time with her, befriended her, wasn’t?
What the hell is going on?
Anger and jealousy swirled in his gut. Maybe he’d been a fool to think he could mean more to her than a good-time fuck. Frustrated and confused, he released his hold on her. “You know what, never mind. If you need anything, I’m sure the deputy will be more than willing to help you.” He moved to the door and flung it open hard, slamming against the white-paint-covered Sheetrock.
“Wait,” she cried. “Don’t leave.” The desperation in her voice had him wanting to rush back into the room, sweep her up into his arms, and make love to her until she couldn’t take anymore. He wanted to soothe her, take care of her, but where that need was coming from, he had no idea. He just did.
For a long moment, he stood there with his fists clenched at his sides. He sucked in a deep breath and released it slowly. He turned to face her. “What?” His tone was even, but sharp.
His chest tightened as he locked onto her tear-stained cheeks. Her vulnerable stare ripped the air from his lungs. “You might not care so much about what’s wrong with me once I tell you more about myself.”
His brow furrowed. Stone figured this might be a conversation that required privacy, so he stepped back into the room, closed the door at his back, and sat down on the edge of the bed. “I’m listening.”
She paced the floor. “There’s no delicate way to say this, so I’m just going to blurt it out,” she said, breathing hard. “When I lived in Houston, I was a prostitute.”
His eyes widened. Holy shit! That was so not what I thought she was about to say.
“Actually I was a…somehow, I’d managed to attract some high-dollar clients, so it wasn’t like I was giving lap rides for twenty bucks,” she said, sounding defensive. “I earned my way out of that world, but thanks to my shithead brother, Adam, his drug dealer tracked me here. He told me that if my brother didn’t pay him for the drugs he’d sold, he would take the payment out on me.”
Stone rose to his full height. His shoulders rolling forward as his muscles flexed. Everything inside him focused strictly on the danger that lay ahead of them. He’d think about the other stuff later. “Did he follow you to your hotel room? Is that why Deputy Ryan was here?”
She shook her head. “No, James and I had dinner at the diner,” she muttered.
A jealous knot twisted tighter in his stomach. “You did?” His jaw clenched under the strain. Shit, he thought he could keep his emotions in check. Why was he so distracted by the deputy? Was he really afraid that James could swoop Gracie off her feet?
“Yes. I had to confront him about our past. I knew James growing up. He was once friends with my brother Adam, but Adam did him wrong, too.”
So that’s why things between her and James were so strange, but familiar. Stone rubbed a stiff hand over the stubble on his chin. It should’ve made him feel better that he hadn’t been here because she liked him, but it didn’t.
Redirecting his thoughts, Stone asked, “So this drug supplier dude was at the diner then?”
“Yes, he and his goons showed up there,” she said, tears welling up in her eyes once again. She moved close to him, their bodies a breath apart. Her eyes searched his. Her sweet, innocent stare was breaking his heart. “Stone, I wanted to start a new life here. If word gets out about my past, I’ll have no choice but to get on the next bus. I won’t stay in a place where I’m ridiculed and made to feel lesser because of a choice I made to survive.”
He couldn’t help himself, he caressed her face. Instinct was driving him to protect her. She was quickly consuming his thoughts and…no, he wasn’t ready to go there. “Gracie, I can’t begin to know what life was like for
you. I also can’t say that I like the idea that you sold your body to strangers, but I do know that I don’t want you to be afraid to live your life.” He stroked her bottom lip with his thumb. “I don’t want to see you hurt.” He pressed his forehead against hers. “Would you like for me to stay here tonight in case those assholes come looking for you?”
She nodded. Her arms surrounded his waist and pulled him close. “Yes, Stone, please stay.” Clinging to him, she wrapped herself as tightly as she could around him, anchoring herself to the one person she felt safest with.
His stomach rolled with nerves as he cupped her face in his hands and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. “Okay, Gracie. I’ll stay.” He stroked her cheek with the back of his knuckles. Her eyes darkened. “Go get cleaned up. I’m going to grab some clothes from my room. I’ll be right back, but go ahead and lock the door behind me.”
She held him a minute longer. “Be careful,” she whispered. “I don’t know where they went after we left the diner.”
He grinned at her need to see that he was safe. “I’ll be fine.”
He heard the lock click on her door as he hurried toward his room, his feet moving steadily, but his ears were still focused on the sounds around him. His eyes danced around every obstacle, checking out anything and everything that might seem suspicious. If they knew to find Gracie at the diner, then there was a real good chance they knew where she was staying.
Not like there were tons of lodging options in Temptation, he reminded himself.
Stone pulled his key from his pocket, popped it into the lock, and entered his room. Racing, he grabbed a change of clothes and left his room. Heading back, he noted an unfamiliar car parked differently from the rest. Where most vehicles were parked between the lines, this car, a blacked-out Escalade, sat across those lines. No other cars were next to it, making a quick getaway convenient if necessary.
Even though the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, he did his best to seem unaffected by the possibility that the men Gracie had spoken of sat lurking in that car.