Craving Heat

by Adrienne Giordano

  Not wanting to waste any more of his energy—the daily bucket was only so full—he punched the screen and disconnected.

  Fucker.

  Lying, scheming fucker.

  Feet pounding the tile, he walked out the front door already lining up a to-do list. Shower first. It would give him a few minutes to calm down. Get the initial anger to a low boil so he could think straight.

  Grif.

  After getting cleaned up, he’d drive into town and speak to his agent about this latest bombshell.

  “Goddammit!”

  Focus here.

  Keeping his head on straight had never hurt him. Losing his shit always did.

  Lies.

  All lies. He knew it. There’d be no proof anywhere. But that damned court of public opinion. It didn’t need proof. Rumors were enough to tarnish a career.

  He’d had enough of that.

  Concentrate. Work the plan.

  Shower first. Talk to Grif. Maybe, if he got really lucky, he’d see Maggie in town.

  After that smoking kiss yesterday, she’d brighten his day, without a doubt.

  * * *

  At 7:00 sharp, Maggie pushed through the Friday night crowd in the Triple B. As usual on the weekend, bodies pressed in—some of them way too sweaty and sending various odors into the atmosphere—while country rock music thumped and reverberated against the floor.

  Freshly showered, a face full of makeup, and wearing her favorite jeans and cowboy boots, Maggie squeezed to the back of the bar where she’d find her family and oxygen. Britt better have opened that back door.

  What had started as a Steele family tradition of meeting at the B on a Friday night had grown to a Steele-Kingston event. Pretty soon, they’d be occupying half the seats in the place. All Maggie knew was that she looked forward to it every weekend. Time with her family, immediate and extended, gave her a few hours to laugh and unwind from the week. A chance to ground herself again and be thankful for the love of good people.

  “Maggie,” someone called over the music.

  She turned and spotted a man in a black baseball cap pulled low and a graphic T-shirt that probably cost more than she made in a week. And the way his shoulders filled out that T-shirt left no doubt who wore it. Jayson. Every yummy, ripped-muscle inch of him.

  If the baseball cap was his idea of a disguise, he needed to work harder. A man that good looking wouldn’t stay hidden for long. Something he should have realized since he’d already attracted the petite blonde beside him.

  A spurt of something dark and searing shot down Maggie’s torso. Years had gone by since she’d experienced the nasty hold of jealousy. She hadn’t missed it, this stab of disappointment. What she had missed was feeling a strong enough attraction to a man that it would incite this reaction.

  What am I doing?

  Being a fool, that’s what. Jayson Tucker? Total player. And why not, when women threw themselves at him?

  He was an unattached adult. Who could blame him? She didn’t need to see it, though. She’d do as her parents taught her and be cordial. Especially to the cutesy blond witch who made Mags look like an Amazon.

  Be nice, Sheriff.

  Couldn’t have guests commenting on the lack of hospitality from Steele Ridge officials.

  Mags slapped on what had to be an over-bright smile and detoured to Jayson and the bitch of a blonde. Now she was a bitch? Get it together here, Mags.

  As she maneuvered around people, Jayson reached for her, gently pulling her to his side. The simple touch set her already teetering nerves skittering. “Hi,” she said. “Are you hiding?”

  “A little bit. Yeah.”

  A drunk jackass stumbled behind her, nearly plowing her over and Jay tugged her closer.

  “The place is nuts,” he said.

  “Friday night. It’s always like this.”

  “Good for Randi. I’m glad we ran into you. I wanted to introduce you to my sister. This is Samantha. Sam, meet Maggie. She’s the sheriff here.”

  Under the cover of loud music, Maggie unleashed a snort. She’d flown into a bout of jealousy for no reason. As a law enforcement professional, hadn’t she learned not to prejudge a situation?

  “No way,” Sam said. “Seriously? A female sheriff. You go, girl.”

  A smile lit Jay’s face. “Cool, right?”

  As much as she didn’t want to feel a rush from a man’s approval, well, yes, it got her hot in places that hadn’t been hot in way—way—too long. “Thank you,” she said. “A female sheriff is different for some folks, but they treat me all right. Are you two having dinner?”

  “Trying to. Sam cut out of work earlier and drove up for the weekend. Britt told me to come in the back door so no one would see me, but there’s not a table to be had.”

  Thus, why he stood huddled in the corner. She couldn’t leave the two of them standing here. Her mother would never survive the shock of one of her children exhibiting bad manners.

  She’d blame it on Mom instead of her own wild, apparently insatiable hormones.

  The crowd shifted and a young woman stepped back, pressing Maggie closer to Jayson, who slid his arm behind her, drawing her flush against him. “Switch spots with me,” he said. “You keep getting bumped.”

  She shook her head. “You can’t stand here all night. Someone will spot you and you’ll be mobbed. Come join us.”

  “Who?”

  “All of us. The whole Steele clan and my brothers and sister. Randi reserves us a table. We’ll put you in the corner so no one can bug you.”

  “Maggie is right,” Sam said above the music. “You’ll draw a crowd. At least back there you’re closer to the door and can make a run for it.”

  All of this was said with a straight face and Maggie took a second, contemplated the idea that Sam was serious. That Jayson spent his life, at least part of it, running.

  So not a good way to live. She swung her thumb over her shoulder. “Both of you, follow me.”

  Staying close to the wall, Maggie led them to the back corner. The Steele section, as it had been dubbed. At the table sat Britt, Reid, Reid’s fiancée, Brynne, Evie, and her man, Deke. At the opposite end, Cash and Riley were in a heads-down, deep conversation with Jonah. More than likely, Cash was bending Jonah’s ear about funding a new tactical medical team that Cash, of course, intended on running.

  “Hey, y’all.” Maggie held up her hand. “Look who I found.”

  Introductions were made, handshakes exchanged, and everyone went back to their business. No starstruck, wide-eyed fans here. Just people wanting to connect with each other.

  Against the wall, Britt slid over two places. “Jay, you and Sam sit on this side. Grif and Carlie Beth will be here in a bit and they can have the two end spots.”

  “I’ll sit on the end until they get here.”

  Maggie dropped into the chair on the end while Jayson sat in the spot against the wall. Sam settled between him and Britt.

  With Maggie anchoring and Reid beside her, no one would get by to hound Jayson.

  “Man,” Jay said, “you guys rock.”

  “You really should have security when you’re in crowded places like this.”

  “I do.”

  “Where?”

  He pointed to a guy leaning against the wall nursing a bottled water. “He stays close enough to react, but tries to give me space.”

  Maggie, once again caught up in her lust for the hot jock, hadn’t even sensed the bodyguard. Maggie, Maggie, Maggie.

  “You don’t always take security, though,” Sam said.

  “No. But I’m smart about it in public places. After the press conference, I brought them in. Common sense.”

  Maggie smacked a hand on his shoulder. “As the sheriff, I thank you.”

  Jayson responded with a fast smile that turned up the heat on Maggie’s privates. His eyes shot to her hand, then back up to meet hers and the heat wasn’t only in Maggie’s privates. It shot off Jayson like a jackrabbit.

 
Oh, she wanted to do this guy. Just slam him down and let loose. Wicked, wicked girl.

  But hey, even the good ones were entitled to a little wickedness.

  Kris McKay, the assistant manager at the B, appeared, notepad in hand. On busy nights, Kris often helped the waitresses by taking orders. Plus, she’d known the Kingstons and Steeles her entire life, so taking their food orders wasn’t so much a job as a friendly gesture.

  After food had been ordered, Sam squeezed behind Jayson and Maggie to hit the ladies’ room. Britt walked away with Sam and Reid was busy talking to some beefy guy about working out at the training center. Which left Jayson and Maggie somewhat to themselves. How very sad for her. Not.

  “Hey,” Jayson said.

  “Hey, yourself. Having fun?”

  “I am. Which is pretty much a miracle. Thank you for the invite.”

  Jayson glanced up as his sister emerged from the crowd. He waved her around to the empty chair beside him, making it clear he wouldn’t be moving again. Before she sat, he leaned over, got right up to Maggie’s ear. “And, I wanted to mention, you look amazing tonight.”

  Another hot flash erupted. Dang it. Was she actually blushing?

  “Thank you,” she said. “Jeans are just about my favorite piece of clothing.”

  “Maggie, these last few days, I’ve liked everything on you.” He shot off a grin. “Forgive me for being a pig, but the tights are my favorite.”

  “Oh, Lord. You’re such a man.”

  He cracked up. “Why, thank you.”

  Sam squeezed back into the chair. “This place is great. Everyone is so nice. It’s a good switch from the crabs in my office.” She laughed. “And I work for a charity.”

  “She works for the charity that just dumped me,” Jay added.

  Talk about awkward. “Eww, that’s rough.”

  “Not really,” Sam said. “Everyone there loves Jayson. It’s the situation.”

  Jay nodded. “They’re a domestic abuse charity.”

  “Celebrate Hope? The one you do all the commercials for?”

  “That’s them.” He ran a finger over the condensation on his beer mug and after a few seconds of silence, turned to Sam. “Did you figure out that issue you called me about?”

  “Not yet. But I will. It’s probably something dumb. There are a few things that look wacky.” She leaned in closer to avoid yelling over the crowd. “I had to prep a financial summary for Will.” She glanced at Maggie. “He’s our director. I couldn’t make sense of the marketing expenses, so I called the bank and asked for copies of all statements. I figured I’d start there so I’d at least know how much money we had. It took all morning, but the bank finally sent over the statements.”

  “And?”

  “Well, there’s an account I’ve never seen.”

  “Is that odd?” Maggie asked.

  “I don’t know. Our CFO just left. He kept things close, so I suppose it’s not completely odd. It’s creating a mess for us, trying to figure out how funds are processed. Not a good look for a charity.”

  “No kidding,” Maggie said.

  “Hey, you three.”

  Reid walked off to talk to someone just as Britt wandered back to the table. He squeezed between the end of the table and the wall and Maggie stood and hugged the big lug. “I haven’t seen you all week. Where’ve you been?”

  “On the mountain. I had a bathroom remodel.”

  Typically, she ran into him in town when he dropped in on Randi at the B. If Maggie’s instincts served her, after Brynne and Reid’s wedding, Britt and Randi wouldn’t be far behind.

  Which left some hope for Maggie, a woman feeling her eggs drying up by the hour. Randi and Britt were well into their thirties when they found each other, so why couldn’t it happen for Maggie? Even if it didn’t, she’d freeze her eggs and have a baby on her own. She didn’t even need a penis for that. She’d find a baby daddy, hijack his sperm, and be artificially inseminated. Although, a little sex wouldn’t hurt.

  She slid a glance to Jayson. Definitely a candidate. On both fronts. Premium sperm to be hijacked here.

  Man, oh, man, she was losing it. Lonely. That’s all. She needed a life. Or at least a diversion from her life.

  Britt leaned forward to speak to Jayson. “We still on for tomorrow?”

  “Hell, yes,” Jay said. “Do you mind if Sam joins us?”

  “Not at all.”

  What was this now? “I see you’ve been plotting with Britt.”

  Jayson nodded. “Yeah. He stopped by Tupelo Hill yesterday.”

  A waitress pushed through the crowd just as a guy leaning on the wall near the table caught her attention to place an order. Maggie studied his profile. The straight nose and his hair, an inch too long in the back and curling. Whether he recognized Jayson, Maggie couldn’t tell, but so far, he hadn’t made an attempt to get closer. She’d have to keep an eye on him.

  The waitress jotted a note, then turned from him and handed Britt a rock glass with his usual whisky.

  Randi had mentioned Britt was making her a little nuts with constantly critiquing the different whisky brands she brought in. Still, Maggie thought it more than slightly adorable that he wanted to help.

  Britt set the glass on the table and leaned over so they could hear him. “I’m taking Jay to see the wolves.”

  It had been months since Maggie had been up on the ridge where Britt discovered a pack of nearly extinct red wolves on Steele property. Given their rarity, he’d applied for grants to protect them. Jonah’s deep pockets didn’t hurt either.

  “Wow,” Maggie said. “I’m impressed.” She turned to Jay. “He’s secretive about them. I’m shocked he’s taking you up there.”

  “He likes hiking,” Britt said. “The fat donation check he wrote me didn’t hurt.”

  Ha. She liked Jayson more and more. The man knew how to get things done. “You bribed him?”

  Jay splayed a hand over his heart. “I made a donation. Big difference.”

  “He bribed him,” Sam said and they all laughed.

  “Maggie, why don’t you join us?” Jay angled his head to Britt. “Is it okay? I’m turning this into a circus.”

  Britt waved it off. “It’s fine. She’s been there. We’ll head up around ten. The wolves tend to be more nocturnal, but we’ll see.”

  Ten o’clock? She could do that. She’d run her normal Saturday errands a little earlier and then meet up with them. “I haven’t hiked that part of the mountain in a long time. It’ll be fun. Plus,” she elbowed Jay, “we can see what kind of shape the superstar is in.”

  “Oh, honey,” he said, “you are on.”

  “Great,” Sam said. “Surrounded by competitive people.”

  “Sorry, Sis. You’re screwed on that one. You should see Maggie run that crazy obstacle course I showed you.”

  Maggie slouched back. “Ugh. That damned thing. I may die trying to break Reid’s record, but I’ll do it.”

  Britt laughed. “You two are funny with that.”

  “Funny my butt. I know he doesn’t think a woman can break it. He’s about to get schooled. It’s that wall. I can’t get over it fast enough.”

  Jay took a long gulp from the water glass the waitress had set in front of him, then set it down. “He has the upper body strength and he’s taller. He’ll always be faster.”

  “Great. Thanks for the pep talk, Mr. Sunshine.”

  He shrugged. “It’s human physiology. You have to come up with another way.”

  Maggie flapped her arms. “I’m trying.”

  “Forget the wall. You’ll never beat his time there. Improve on the other obstacles. The army crawl. You’re faster than he is on that.”

  That piqued her interest. What now? “How do you know?”

  “He told me. That first day when I watched you. Improve your time on that and you’ll beat him.” He gave her one of his charming smiles. “And, being the competitive sort, I’d be happy to help you. He kicked the crap out of me this mor
ning. Revenge is in order.”

  The army crawl. Reid—the competitive little shit—never told her she’d beat him on that. Now, he’d pay. “You’re on, mister.”

  He held up a hand for a high-five. “Let’s do this.”

  Yes. Let’s.

  * * *

  By 10:30 Saturday morning, the sun had burned through the clouds and Jay and Sam rode with Britt on a road Jay didn’t quite consider a road, but apparently Britt did.

  The morning hadn’t started out so promising. It had greeted Jay with gloomy gray skies and forty-five degrees. Being the dedicated career guy, he hauled his ass from bed and logged five miles around the property before Sam had even rolled out of bed.

  After which, Miss Joan treated them to ham and eggs. This kind of living, he could get used to. Miss Joan deserved a nice gift for putting up with him. And his sister. The woman opened her home to strangers, trusting they wouldn’t walk off with valuables. Or family secrets.

  Finally, Britt pulled into a clearing where Maggie leaned against her SUV, face tipped to the sky. She wore lightweight cargo pants and a long-sleeved shirt layered over what looked like a white T-shirt. She’d pulled her honey-blond hair into a ponytail revealing the long column of her neck and Jay was hit with a gut shot that brought back thoughts of handcuffs.

  Maggie looked over at them and smiled. Handcuffs.

  Of all the women he’d dated, none of them were…

  Maggie.

  Independent. Strong. Tough in some ways. Not like his mother tough, but enough that… He shook it off.

  “Let’s hit it, people,” Britt said.

  Putting thoughts of his mother from his head, Jay pushed the truck door open. Nice morning, good company, and nature.

  That’s what he’d focus on.

  An hour into their hike, with sunshine knocking the edge off the crisp morning air, they climbed higher toward the top of a bluff where the gentle burble of water sounded. Creek. Dead ahead. Jay peered up at the sky, taking it all in. The beauty of the day, the land. Perfection.

  He’d never been a church guy, but days like this he believed, without a doubt, in God’s work.