by Sable Hunter
By
Sable Hunter
A
Crossover Novel
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
JUST A LOVE STORY
All rights reserved.
Copyright 2018 © Sable Hunter
Cover: JRA Stevens for Down Write Nuts
Formatting: Down Write Nuts
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher
JUST A LOVE STORY
This is a Hell Yeah/Texas Heat crossover novel. Revisit old friends and make new ones along the way…
Once upon a time, in a very small town lived an average young woman with an uncomplicated life.
Like everyone else, she has hopes and dreams, but the people around her never take the time to know the real Shae. When they look at her, they only see the woman they expect to see. Shae St. John spends her days helping others, but her nights are spent all alone. To fill the lonely hours, she weaves stories in her head about what it would be like to love and be loved. These are private fantasies, for her eyes only…until a family crisis forces her to put pen to paper and bring her erotic dreams into the light of day. Shae has no intention for anyone to ever know that she’s the romance author, Jessabelle – but when the truth is revealed, her world is ripped apart.
In order for this to be a love story, there must be a guy...of course.
Derek Alden doesn’t see himself as a hero. His life is in shambles. After losing his home, his business, and his only child in a messy divorce, Derek returns to his roots, seeking a place to heal and plan how he can reclaim what he’s lost. Derek’s new lawyer gives him one piece of advice – if you want to regain custody of your child – stay out of trouble.
Unfortunately, trouble is all too hard to resist.
Derek tries to keep his distance from Shae, but her mix of innocence and sensuality draws him like a moth to the flame.
This is the story of two people who deserve a happy ending. As with most stories, things can be complicated - mistakes will be made and problems arise. Everything from small town drama to a madman’s schemes will come into play.
But overall – this is a love story.
Just a love story.
THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO ONE OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE.
MY EDITOR AND MY FRIEND.
JO POWERS
Contents
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
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CHAPTER ONE
Shae
“Shae, you are mine,” he grunted the words as he pumped between the creaminess of my thighs. I don’t know if I will survive this. The pleasure is just too great. I can feel every inch of his thick erection as he takes me hard. Savagely. God, I love this.
“Yes, yours, I’m yours,” I whimpered, clinging to him as he released my mouth from his kiss.
“Over.”
With the one-word command, he pulled from my aching center, leaving me bereft. I turned my back to him as he directed, bending, pushing my ass against him, begging for more.
“Please, please,” I plead as he thrusts hard into me once more, his hands coming up to cup my breasts and milk my nipples. With every move he makes, my breasts jiggle in his hands. “Good, so good,” I mewl as he sucks on my neck.
“Come for me, Shae. I want to hear you.”
I shudder in his arms as he slides one hand down to my mound, his thick fingers finding my clit. When he begins to rub me in circles, I shatter. Moaning. Whimpering. Keening with bliss. My body is not my own. I am his.
“Hey, watch out, clumsy! You kicked sand in my face!”
Shae blinked, catching onto Cathy’s arm to keep from falling on top of the annoyed guy who was glaring at her with undisguised disdain.
“Sorry, I was…thinking of something else.”
“Maybe you should spend more time at curves and less time stomping around like a water buffalo. You’re a hazard!”
Shae stared at the angry man who was reclined on the sand with a six-pack of beer at his side. “I apologize, I didn’t see you.”
“Come on, Shae.” Cathy pulled her to one side and they continued their walk down the beach. “Daydreaming again? We’re supposed to be watching these kids, you know.” She pointed at the half dozen teenagers who frolicked in the nearby waves.
“I know. Sorry. I’ve been a little out of it lately.”
“You do too much. You need to take a vacation. How’s this?” She spread out an LSU Tigers beach blanket near the water’s edge. “I think we can see them all from here.”
“Perfect. And this is my vacation.” Shae laid out her own striped beach towel, glancing over her shoulder at the nice-looking guy who’d given her a hard time. “What did he mean when he said I need to spend more time at curves? I think I’m curvy enough.” She glanced down at her too rounded body, safely ensconced in a modest, black bathing suit with an attached skirt.
Cathy laughed, shaking her head. “I think he agrees with you. Curves is the name of a gym. He was saying you need to work out more.”
“Oh. Figures.” She plopped down on the towel and pulled a filmy cover-up from her bag, slipping the garment on quickly.
“Oh, don’t let that ignoramus get to you. What does he know?” Cathy murmured as she began to rub sunscreen on her arms.
“He has eyes, I guess.” Shae tucked her legs beneath her. She wouldn’t need much sunscreen, she didn’t intend to show much skin.
Trying to put the stranger’s insult out of her mind, Shae focused on the teens playing in the surf. “Cricket seems to be having the time of her life.” She smiled as the girl held up a seashell to show one of her friends. “I’m glad her mother let her come with us. With her dad in prison, I know their family has been having difficulty making ends meet.”
“I saw Cricket working at the Dairy Queen a few days ago.” Cathy offered the bottle of sunscreen to Shae, who squeezed a little in her hand and gave her arms a cursory swipe.
“Yes, she’s working there after school and on Saturdays. I spoke to the manager and asked him to get someone to cover her for this weekend.” Shae continued to watch the antics of their charges. “Oh, look, Cathy. Greg has Monica in a lip-lock.”
“No PDA!” Cathy called out
and Shae laughed as the couple sprang apart.
“Daring little devils and their public displays of affection.” She did a quick head count of their church kids, then glanced over at the lifeguard station. “This is probably the last back- to-school trip we’ll make unless we do our own fundraisers from now on. I heard the Finance Committee wants to take the line item out of the budget.”
“Cranky old people. I bet they’ll find the funds for their Pilgrimage trip to Natchez.” Cathy dug in her beach bag and took out a bottle of water. “Want one?”
“Thanks.” Shae gave her companion a smile. “You’re always so prepared.”
“I’m a mom, which means I have to be ready for anything.” She pulled several things out of her purse to show Shae. “Emergency whistle with a compass. A Swiss army knife. Boogie wipes.”
Shae laughed at her pretty red-headed friend, who’d given up her career as an English teacher to stay home with her small children. “You’re a Boy Scout as well as a great mom. At least you have babies of your own, I have to mother the church kids.”
“Yes. Count your blessings, you get to leave them at the end of the day and go home alone for some peace and quiet.”
Alone. Always. “Peace and quiet is overrated.” She took a sip of water, staring blankly out into the Gulf of Mexico. “I have two funerals next week.”
“You and your funerals. I don’t see how you do it. My mother wanted me to sing at my grandmother’s memorial service. I couldn’t, it was just too hard.” Cathy placed a hand over her eyes to shade them as she monitored the swimmers.
“I’m used to it. I can’t count how many funerals I’ve done. Playing piano, singing a hymn, or both. Hundreds, probably. Funerals and weddings. My funerals tend to stick better than the weddings.” She smiled and smirked. “So many marriages end in divorce.” Shae sighed. “Anyway, our little town is so behind the times, other places use canned music for those big moments.” Shae sat up straighter, watching to see if Grady came up out of the waves. She’d seen him go under, but now she’d lost sight of him. The young man was her favorite. He suffered from Down’s, but he had the sweetest disposition of them all.
As Shae stood so she could see better, Cathy continued the train of thought. “I’m sure folks could use canned music if they wanted to, but everyone who’s anyone wants Shae St. John to serenade them. You’re an institution in our part of the world, girl. You’ve been the church pianist since you were eight years old. You’re the children’s choir director, the Bible School Director, you’ve played for Christmas services, graduations…bar mitzvahs.”
“There he is.” Shae breathed a sigh of relief. “I’ve never been to a bar mitzvah. We’re Episcopalian.”
Cathy laughed. “We’re a lot of things. Country. Conservative. Redneck.”
“Speak for yourself.” Shae picked up her hair and wound it into a ponytail around her hand. The movement made her think of the sex scene she’d written last night.
“Yes, you’re a closet liberal. I know. A ghost hunter. A rebel in disguise.” Cathy took a moment to look at her friend. “You are sunburning really fast, your cheeks are beet red, St. John.” She handed Shae the sunscreen, then eyed her suspiciously. “Why do you look so guilty? Are you blushing?”
“No! No. No.” She took the tube and spread a tiny bit of lotion on her cheeks, trying to cover the flush. She was embarrassed Cathy’s insight was hitting a little too close to home. “I’m having a hot flash. Early onset menopause.”
“You’re not that old, you’re not even thirty.”
“If this was the 1800’s, I’d be considered an old maid,” Shae mused, thinking of the historical story she was working on, the one about a runaway slave and the Texas pioneer who saves her. “A spinster on the shelf.”
“Yes, but this isn’t the 1800’s, you’re an independent woman.”
“I’m a twenty-eight-year-old virgin. I’ve been on two dates in my life.” She held up two fingers. “Two dates. And that was eons ago, right out of high school. I’m going to die with my maidenhead still intact.”
Cathy laughed, then leaned over close to Shae. “Your hymen wouldn’t still be there if you used a dildo. Lynn ordered me one off Amazon.”
“Cathy!” Shae smiled, surprised. “Good for you!” She was slightly jealous of her friend who seemed to have it all. Two beautiful children and an adoring husband.
Shrugging, Cathy giggled. “Besides, the only reason you don’t get dates is because of your reputation.”
“What?” Shae looked at her quizzically. “What reputation?”
“Your sterling reputation. You’re a saint, St. John. All the local guys are scared of you. You’re too good. You’re intimidating. They think you think you’re better than everyone else.”
“I don’t!”
“I know you don’t.” Cathy patted Shae on the arm. “It’s just this little hick town we live in. They’ve seen you grow up and devote your life to the church. Your daddy was a deacon, your grandmother is the pillar of the community. You spend your time reading history books. They think you’re…off-limits. Heck, if you moved anywhere else, men would be all over you.”
Shae had to smile. She certainly read things other than history books. And men being all over her sounded pretty darn good. “I can’t move anywhere else. Not even if I wanted too,” she added quickly. “Grandmother needs me. She’ll never leave Longleaf and I can never leave her.” Shae was stuck in the tiny sawmill town where everyone knew everything about everybody.
They thought.
They didn’t know what Shae dreamed about when she was alone in bed. They had no idea she entertained such fantasies.
Cathy checked her watch. “They’ve been in the water for two hours. Do you think we should take them back to the hotel to clean up before heading to the movies?”
Shae looked out over the water, doing her headcount again. And again. “Oh, shit.” She jumped up. “I don’t see Grady again.”
Cathy jumped up too. “Oh, my gosh.”
Together they walked toward the surf’s edge. “There he is!” Shae shouted. “He’s too far out. Looks like he’s in trouble.” She threw off her cover-up. “I’ll get him.”
“Dang worthless lifeguard,” Cathy mumbled, noticing the young man was being entertained by two bikini clad women. No worries, though. Shae would save the day, she always did.
Running into the waves, Shae dove into the water. She was a strong swimmer and she knew the waters off Galveston Island like the back of her hand. This was her family’s go-to place when anything happened that knocked them off kilter. Only a hundred miles south of Longleaf, the beach was as far a cry from the piney woods of East Texas as any contrasting landscape could be. Maybe that was why her folks gravitated here in times of trouble – a change of scenery, a change of mind, a change of habit. Regardless, Shae had spent countless hours in the less than crystal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. She knew the currents, the ebbs, the flows, better than any lifeguard on the beach. Hell, she’d been weaned early from the bottle because her folks neglected to watch how far she’d floated out in her innertube. She’d been halfway to Cuba before they thought to check on her.
Okay, she was exaggerating. A little.
Stroke after stroke, she plowed through the waters in time to pull a gasping and flailing Grady’s head above water. “Easy, hon. I’ve got you.”
“Shae!” He threw his arms around her and they both sank.
“Relax, Grady or we’ll both drown.”
Thankfully, her words seemed to reach him, and he went limp in her grasp, giving her the chance to take them both safely to shore.
“Thank God!” Cathy cried as she ran to meet them. “Grady, are you okay?”
“Yes.” He coughed up a little water. “Ick.”
“Let’s get you back to your room.” She looked up at their group all standing around in concern. “Let’s get everyone back to the hotel!”
Shae gathered her bag, the towel, and her cover-up, not bot
hering to put it on. When she walked past the sneering guy who’d insulted her earlier, she fought an uncontrollable urge to shoot him the finger. “Great, Shae,” she muttered. “Fine example you’d set for the youth group.”
Oh well, if anyone knew Secret Shae, they wouldn’t consider her any kind of good example.
* * *
“Thanks, Cathy. I owe you one. I love the beach at night.” She brushed her hair, then slipped on the ever-present cover-up over her bathing suit. “I just don’t think I could sit through Ant-Man, it’s not my kind of movie.”
“I know you like spooky movies. What was the last one you went to see?”
Shae didn’t like to lie, but there was no way she could admit she’d driven two hours from home to watch Fifty Shades of Grey. Now, that was her kind of movie. Racking her brain, she came up with the name of a recent horror release. “The Woman in Black 2, I think. Anyway, I’m grateful you’re allowing me to skip out on this evening’s activities.”
“No problem. Lynn and the kids driving in to surprise me was a big treat. They’ll love the movie and he’ll help me corral the troops. You don’t mind me leaving you alone tonight, do you?” She gestured to the beds behind them. “I could bunk in here with you if you want.”
“Nonsense. Sleep with your husband.” Shae laughed. “I certainly would if I had one.” Hell yes, she’d wear the guy out. Take out all her pent-up sexual frustration on his manly body. “Whew! Is the air not working in here?”
“It’s Texas, you can’t escape the heat.”
Can’t Escape the Heat. Oh, that would be a good title for an erotic romance novel.
“True.” Shae hugged her. “Thanks again and take good care of the terrors. I’ll have my phone if you need me.”
“Go. Have a good time,” Cathy called to her as she left the hotel room. “Find a man!”
“Right!” Keeping her gaze on the carpet, she made her way to the elevator. When the doors opened, she pressed the Lobby button, then found refuge in the back corner. Even with the elevator empty, she gave in to her habit of making herself as invisible and unobtrusive as possible. Crossing her arms over her breasts, she leaned her head back against the wall, letting the vibrations of the moving elevator hum through her body.