Deacon Johns

by Ciana Stone

  “Thirteen years is too much of an age gap.”

  “Bull.”

  “It is. In my book it is, Etta.”

  “Fine, then why are you barking at me? If you don’t want to have anything to do with her, then don’t.”

  “I won’t.”

  “But you want to.”

  Had it been anyone else, Deacon would have delivered a scathing comeback. But it wasn’t anyone else. It was Etta and she knew him. “God help me, I do.”

  “And what about her?”

  “What about her?”

  “Come on. You know when a woman is into you. Was the attraction reciprocal?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, there you go.”

  “Smart-ass.”

  Etta smiled, picked up her beer, and stood. “Look, you’ll do what you think is right and goodness knows it’s one of the things I love about you, but would you do me a favor?”

  “What?”

  “For once, stop thinking about what’s best for people around you, what’s the right or honorable or smart thing to do, and just go with your feelings? If you’re interested, then be interested and see what develops. If it’s something that’s meant to be more, it will be and if it’s not, it won’t.”

  “Go with the flow?”

  “Exactly.”

  “That’s not my strong suit.”

  “I know, but just this once consider giving it a try. You never know, Deac. She just might be the one.”

  “I don’t know that there is another one for me.”

  “But I believe there is, so indulge me.”

  “Oh, so I should pursue this woman to make you happy?”

  Etta walked around the table, leaned down, and kissed Deacon on the cheek. “You should think about what makes you happy. For you and yes, for me, because you’re my family and I want you to be happy.”

  “I’ll think about it.”

  “Good. Hey, we’re headed into town tomorrow for a night at the Honky Tonk. Riley Morgan’s band is playing. Charli’s on duty, but Grady said he’d join, so come with us.”

  “Maybe. I’ll let you know.”

  “Okay. Have a good night.”

  “You, too.”

  Deacon watched Etta leave, stilling holding her beer. He polished off what was left of his and walked outside. He’d always made it a policy not to get involved with women who were a lot younger. He might have a passing flirtation with someone younger, maybe even a liaison, but nothing of consequence. It was all just for a good time, or for sex.

  What made Mica Gray Horse any different? She could be nothing more than another in a long line of one-night stands.

  No. Even as the thought passed through his mind, he dismissed it. She wasn’t just a one-night stand. She was the woman who could be the one and the bare-bones truth was, that scared the living daylights out of him.

  He was adept at many things, good at some, great at others, but knowing how to love a woman the way she deserved was something apparently beyond his ken. And if he was being completely honest, he’d have to admit that something inside him was a little afraid that she might not just be the one he wanted, but that she could be the one who had the power to do what no other woman had ever done.

  Break his heart.

  Chapter Five

  “You should stay home.”

  Mica paused in the process of pulling on her boot to look at her brother. “I’m not getting into this with you again, Matty. We’re in freaking Cotton Creek, the armpit of nowhere, Texas. We’re safe. No one is going to find me here.”

  “If they want to find you bad enough, they will.”

  “But they don’t.” She resumed her task. “And they won’t. No one would ever think to look here because no one is looking for Mica Gray Horse.”

  “You might have let something slip along the way.”

  “But I didn’t.” Mica stood, looked around for her phone, and spotted it on the bar that separated the kitchen from the family room. “And you need to stop worrying about it,” she said over her shoulder as she collected her phone. “We’re safe and I’m going to the Honky Tonk, have some barbecue, drink a beer, listen to music and if I’m lucky, be social and talk to people.”

  “I’d feel better if you stayed home.”

  “Well, I wouldn’t, so unless you’re going with me, I’ll see you later.”

  He didn’t even respond to that. He just glared at her.

  Mica rolled her eyes, walked over, and planted a kiss on his forehead. “I’ll be fine. See you in the morning.”

  With that, she left the house. There were two old pickups parked in the driveway. Bad and Worse, she called them. Since Worse was behind Bad, she climbed into it and after three tries, got it started.

  Mica made a mental note to work on Matty about letting her buy new vehicles. He was paranoid about them having new trucks. He thought it drew attention to them. Mica smiled at that notion. Everything about Matty drew attention. Not only was he huge, tall, and as hard as the iron he forged, he was one handsome man. She saw the way women looked at him and knew the fantasies they cooked up about him. The noble savage and all that romantic nonsense.

  But he sure did look the part. She wished he’d take advantage of all that silent appeal he possessed and find someone to share his life with. But Matty had his own demons to quell and until that was done, he wouldn’t open up and let anyone in. It was rare he opened up to her.

  Mica blamed herself for that. She ran away when she was sixteen and left Matty behind, in the care of their father. Their mother had already escaped back to New York, where she grew up, into the bosom of her snobby family where everyone could pity her for falling for “one of those nasty Indians” and ending up living in “squalor” for six years, trying to take care of two little half-breed kids.

  What a joke. Mica’s mother had never been a victim. She was just a spoiled, rich, white woman who fell in heat with a good-looking Native man and made the mistake of marrying him. She’d probably been in a defiant stage or something and at the time, thought the idea was romantic.

  Romance dies fast when the money runs out and that’s what happened to her mother. Her parents cut her off and she discovered that her life wasn’t so romantic after all.

  From the time Mica was five, she took care of Matty. Their father wasn’t much for caregiving. Hell, he barely stayed sober enough to keep a job and put food on the table. Mica learned early how to beg, borrow, and steal to keep her little brother fed.

  But at sixteen, she’d had enough, so when a man in a shiny suit with hair all slicked back, driving a Cadillac, showed up to talk to the tribal council about opening a casino, she saw her chance.

  Tony Julliani was the first man she seduced, the one she gave her virginity to. She helped him by telling him secrets about the members of the tribal council and he used that knowledge to work a deal. And in exchange, when Tony left, she was riding in the passenger seat of that Cadillac.

  Mica Gray Horse was left in the dust behind that Caddy, and Cipriana was born. Riana, as Tony called her.

  Mica shook off thoughts of the past as she spotted the sign for the bar and grille. The parking lot was already half full, which made her glad she hadn’t waited until later to come.

  She spotted Cody behind the bar and made her way through the crowd. The bar was packed but she managed to secure a place between a man almost as tall as Matty and a very short older woman dressed in a denim outfit that would rival any blinged-out costume ever worn on a country western stage.

  The woman’s hair was a “Dolly Do” of the past, and one that might have worked for the Queen of Country but looked funny as hell on the old munchkin. To keep from gawking at the woman, Mica looked in the other direction. The man beside her turned and did the hand-to-hat thing. “Evening.”

  “Hello.”

  “You’re new.”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “JD Weathers.” The man extended his hand.

  “Mica Gray Horse.�
� She took his hand, noticing the gold band on the ring finger of his left hand.

  “The new blacksmith?” Disbelief was clear on his handsome face.

  “No, that’d be my brother, Mathias. I—“

  “Well, you made it.” Cody’s voice interrupted. “Oh, sorry. JD, I see you’ve met Mica. You need to stop by and look at her work. She makes amazing blades.”

  “Is that so?” JD looked at Mica. “I’ll do that.”

  “That’d be great. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Weathers.”

  “JD, please, and the pleasure is mine.” He turned his attention to Cody. “Can you send a bottle of Fireball and shot glasses to our table with our drinks. We’re celebrating.”

  “Oh? What’s the occasion?”

  “Don’t know. Bryson said he’d tell us tonight. Probably a big contract.”

  “Well, whatever it is, congrats and the bottle’s on the house.”

  “Thanks, Cody.”

  “You bet.”

  Mica watched the exchange and when JD turned away, her attention focused on Cody. “That was a nice thing to do.”

  Cody shrugged. “The Weathers are good folks. And pretty much family now. His brother Bryson is Hannah’s husband.”

  “Oh. Is Bryson as hot as his brother?”

  “Oh yeah. And speaking of hot.” Cody jerked her head up toward the entrance.

  Mica wasn’t the only woman in the bar appreciating the sight as Deacon Johns walked in with Etta and a handsome dark-haired man. “Who’s the hot guy with Etta?”

  “Jasper Jacks. He and Etta are getting married in a month or so. And the man with them is—“

  “Deacon Johns.” Mica interrupted.

  “Ahh, you’ve met.”

  “We have.”

  “And?”

  “And I think I need a drink.” Mica grinned.

  Cody laughed. “What’s your poison?”

  “Do you have Macallan?”

  “Macallan?” Cody cocked one eyebrow. “I have one bottle of the Sherry Oak 18 years old. Logan Legacy offered it as a hello gift when he came to town to buy the oil field. Never cracked it open because no one seemed inclined to pay upwards of twenty dollars a shot.”

  “It’s my favorite. I’ll have that.”

  “Ice?”

  “And ruin an eighteen-year Macallan?”

  “Well, la-dee-dah, girl. Coming up.”

  As Cody moved toward the other end of the bar, Mica heard someone speak her name and turned.

  Etta smiled at her. “Hi, Mica.”

  “Hi.” Mica smiled at Etta, genuinely happy to see her. The man identified by Cody as Etta’s fiancé stood beside her, and behind them was Deacon. “How are you?” Mica made a point to keep her gaze on Etta despite wanting to look at Deacon.

  “Great. I’d like for you to meet my fiancé, JJ.” She looked up at JJ. “JJ, this is the woman I was telling you about that makes the amazing blades, Mica Gray Horse.”

  “It’s a pleasure.” JJ stuck out his hand.

  “JJ—Jasper Jacks?” A memory surfaced. “I remember Matty talking about you. Weren’t you on a mission together? Iran? Iraq?”

  “Iraq. Yes.” JJ smiled. “I’ve been meaning to stop by and see Mathias.”

  “He’d love that. It’s an honor to meet you and thank you for your service.”

  That seemed to come as a surprise to JJ. “Uh, thank you.”

  “I think you’ve already met Deacon,” Etta said and Mica saw more than a bit of sly in Etta’s expression.

  “Indeed I have.” Mica finally looked at Deacon. “It’s good to see you again, Commander.”

  “Deacon will do.”

  Mica looked directly into his eyes and it was as if time had come to a “slam on the brakes, boil black from the tires, and skid off the road” halt. She indulged herself in the energy that arced between them. It was hot and powerful and promised things she longed for in the worst way.

  “Deacon.”

  Something flared in his eyes. She knew it wasn’t her imagination and it sent her libido meter into a rapid climb. She deliberately looked away to break the moment.

  “Are you with someone?” Etta asked.

  “No. I couldn’t talk Matty into coming.”

  “Then join us.” Etta said.

  “I don’t want to intrude.”

  “It’s not an intrusion. We’re just having a beer and some dinner. And if I’m lucky, I’ll get JJ to dance with me once.”

  “If she’s lucky.” JJ smiled at Etta.

  “Are you meeting someone?” Mica looked at Deacon.

  “No.”

  “Well, in that case.” She held his gaze for a moment, then looked at Etta. “I’d love to.”

  “Your Macallan,” Cody said from behind the bar.

  “Thanks. Can I start a tab?”

  “Sure.”

  “Great.” Mica looked at the others. “Anyone interesting in joining me? This is a really nice whiskey.”

  Etta shook her head. “I’m more of a wine person.”

  “And I stick with beer,” JJ added.

  “What about you, Deacon?” Mica looked directly at him. “Will you share a glass with me?”

  “Yes, thank you.”

  “I’ll bring it to your table,” Cody said. “Along with a white wine for Etta and Corona for JJ, right?”

  “You got it,” JJ said and then escorted Etta to a table, leaving Mica to tag along behind with Deacon.

  Cody delivered their drinks and just as she left with their dinner order, Hannah arrived and called out to Etta. Etta and JJ excused themselves to go speak with Hannah.

  Mica angled a bit, sampled her drink, and looked at Deacon who sat beside her. He sipped his whiskey and nodded appreciatively. “Not many people your age appreciate fine whiskey.”

  “Not many people any age appreciate a really fine whiskey. This is one of my favorites. It makes me think of autumn.”

  “Indeed.” He agreed. “Clove and ginger and wood smoke.”

  “Yes, but dried fruit and sweet toffee as well. It’s a beautiful blend and particularly pleasingly with a good cigar.”

  He chuckled, and she found the sound to be extremely sexy. “You smoke cigars?”

  “Only with eighteen-year-old Macallan.”

  He raised his glass in toast and she touched the rim of her glass to his. Etta and JJ returned just then, and the conversation turned to plans for their wedding.

  It was clear that Etta and Jasper were crazy about one another from the looks they shared, the way they’d find an excuse to touch one another and the expression on their faces when they watched the other leading the conversation.

  Try as she might, Mica couldn’t help but be envious. How wonderful it must be to have that kind of love.

  Throughout the meal, she asked questions about Sanctuary, how each of them came to be there, and listened as Etta and Jasper talked about the new facility that was being built. Deacon said little unless asked a direct question. Not that he was unsociable. He just didn’t initiate conversation.

  Hannah and her husband got up on stage to announce that they were expecting a baby. The entire bar erupted in cheers and applause and Mica was struck not only by how much people here seemed to care about one another, but the love shining on Hannah’s face when she looked at her husband.

  By the time Cody took the stage and announced the house band, Mica felt she knew a lot about Cotton Creek, Sanctuary and the new center where the people sitting with her lived and worked. She didn’t, for a moment, think she knew the people. They had secrets. She could see it in their eyes and could recognize an evasion or someone turning a topic. She was a master at that.

  Just like she was a master of asking questions and leading the conversation so that questions weren’t directed at her.

  The band started up and Etta pulled Jasper out of his seat and onto the floor. That left her seated beside Deacon. He finished the last sip of his drink and set the glass aside.

  �
�Want another?” she asked.

  “No, thanks. You?”

  “No, I’m fine.”

  She turned her attention to the people on the dance floor. “It’s easy to see that Etta and JJ are crazy about one another. They make a beautiful couple.”

  “I agree.”

  Mica turned her head to look at him. “So, why is a handsome man like you here alone? Is there as Mrs. Commander waiting for you at home?”

  “No.”

  “Well, that’s a relief. I’d hate to be flirting with someone’s husband.”

  “Are you flirting with me?”

  “I’m working my plan.”

  “Ah, you have a plan.”

  “I do. First I ply you with whiskey and then,” she scooted a tiny bit closer. “I tell you how much I love this music and how long it’s been since a handsome man whirled me around a dance floor.”

  “And then?”

  “And then I hope you take the hint.” She batted her eyes at him over-dramatically and he chuckled.

  “Would you like to dance?”

  “Why, Commander Johns, how kind of you. I would. Very much.”

  Deacon stood and offered his hand. Mica took it and he pulled her to her feet. Once on the dance floor, he took her into his arms.

  Mica had been with her share of men, some she cared for and some she used to get something she wanted. But she’d never in her life felt anything like the sensations that rioted through her when Deacon took her into his arms.

  Home. Dear God, how could she perceive it that way? Sure, she had a major case of lust going for the man, but home?

  “So, you’re going to really be Commander Johns again? Back on active status?” She said the first thing that came to mind to turn her attention on something besides the feelings that threatened to make her do something foolish.

  “Yes.”

  “Are you looking forward to it?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “What part? Being back in the military? Living a regimented life? Commanding others?”

  He almost smiled before he answered. “All of it, I suppose.”

  “Why do you think that is? Because you spent so much of your adult life in the service?”

  He regarded her a moment before answering. “Probably. It’s a way of life I know and am comfortable with.”