She grabbed his arms, shocked at the solidity of the stone beneath her fingertips.
“Would it kill you to call me BJ? To acknowledge these feelings we all have for one another?”
“What feelings?” She absorbed the scent of his cologne, the attraction she had for him.
“When are you going to stop fighting Monte and me? What is it going to take to get you to see what you do to us and how we feel about you?”
She tried to pull away.
“I can’t do this now. I don’t sleep around, Sheriff…BJ. I’m not what you need or what you’re looking for.”
She tried pulling away, but he held her tighter and cupped her neck and hair so she was forced to look him in the eye.
“You’re so beautiful and an amazing business woman, but you suck at lying.”
Before she could respond, he covered her mouth with his own devouring any retort.
He made love to her mouth and kissed her like no man, no lover, had ever done before. The hand on her waist trailed over her skirt and against her ass as he hoisted her higher and firmer against his rock-hard body.
She found herself giving in to the kiss and his control. It was just so damn good, and the feeling of being in his arms was invigorating and safe. She actually felt safe. That jolted her back to reality as well as his previous words that included his brother.
He must have sensed her need to slow things down, and carefully, at his own pace, he began to slow the kiss and eventually release her lips. He nuzzled his face against her neck. His light whiskers tickled her sensitive skin while his warm, rapid breath collided against it.
“You smell so damn good and taste even better than I imagined.”
Damn, he imagined kissing me?
“BJ, I don’t know what to—”
Before she could finish, they heard a knock on her door. She pulled away from him and straightened out her skirt and tried to fix her lipstick. The sound of the knob being turned brought reality back to her in a flash. Now everyone would be talking about what she may or may not have been doing with the local sheriff locked in her office.
“I’ll be right there, Carl!” she yelled as she began to unlock the door. BJ covered her hand with his much larger one as he leaned against her. He practically covered her body with his own. He whispered against her shoulder.
“This isn’t over, Susanna.”
He stepped back, allowing her to open the door, and Carl stood a few feet away. He looked a bit surprised to see that BJ was still there, and then he gave the sheriff a nod as BJ tipped his hat then headed back down the hallway.
“What was that all about?” Carl asked as he smiled at Susanna.
“Nothing. The sheriff is concerned over Don’s behavior. I guess I’d better get downstairs and call him from the front. Maybe have him meet Ava and I by the back office downstairs. That way, if he’s pissed off, the back door and Clyde are nearby.”
“You may want to call Clyde and have him or Big Dog go with you now.”
“What do you mean?”
“Come take a look at this footage from the side alleyway and the closet near that exit door,” Carl told her as she followed him back into the surveillance room.
Richie was bringing up a picture on the big screen so that he could see clearly as he recorded it.
“Are you shittin’ me!” Susanna exclaimed as she saw the image on the screen of Don screwing the underage girl in the back room. He lifted her skirt up and had her bent over boxes of supplies. There were whiskey glasses and beer bottles near them.
Before she could think better and with her temper flaring, she headed out the door.
“Susanna, I’ll call Clyde. Wait for the bouncers!” he yelled to her, but she was so pissed off she waved her hand behind her as she hurried down the back staircase instead of taking the elevator. She wasn’t going to take any chances that this asshole had someone looking out for him. Her radio went off right before she exited the doorway.
“He’s got Brent looking out. He’ll be on your left as you exit the doorway,” Carl stated.
“Where is he right now?”
“Directly in front of the doorway you’re heading to. What are you going to do?” he asked, but before she replied, she slowly turned the nob then banged it open hard enough to send Brent flying headfirst into the other doorway. He roared in pain as he held his nose, and before he could warn Don, she yanked open the door and caught him in the act with the young woman.
“Hey, asshole, you’re fired, and take the tramp with you.”
She watched him freak out and try to explain that he was on break. She heard yelling behind her.
“Watch out!” someone yelled. She thought it was Clyde or BJ, but as she turned, she took the hit to her ribs. Brent struck her with some sort of hard object. She lost her breath and he came at her like some wild monster.
She tried to swing back at him, but he countered each strike and ripped her blouse. She threw a right fist and hit him directly in the nose, but then some dark shadow covered them, and a moment later Brent was off of her as Ava was at her side.
“Holy shit, Susanna. He could have killed you.” She fussed over her, but Susanna was trying to catch her breath. It actually hurt to breathe, and she knew something was wrong.
She could hear the yelling in the background then banging like someone was being tossed around.
“Holy fuck, Susanna, Sheriff Parker is pissed. He just beat the crap out of Don and Brent. The deputies are here, too. Carl called them.”
“Oh God, we don’t need this kind of bad publicity.”
“Shit, Susanna, you’re lucky you fought him off and that Clyde and Carl knew what was going on. Thank God the sheriff was here. You two were upstairs in your office together right?” Ava teased, and Susanna nearly gasped, but she was in too much pain. “Let me cover you up.” She tried to pull Susanna’s blouse closed.
“I need to sit up. Help me.” Susanna grabbed onto Ava’s shoulder.
“Lie still, Susanna. I think you need to see a doctor.”
“Nonsense. Get me up and into the elevator to my office.”
“Susanna, we were so worried,” Juliet stated as she rushed over along with Elise.
“I’m fine. Make sure to cover the bar and have Carl and Richie monitor everything. I’m going back upstairs to the office.”
“You’re going to the hospital.” The sheriff interrupted the women and moved them out of the way just as Ava helped Susanna stand up.
Susanna cringed from the pain.
“I’m going upstairs. Thanks for the help.”
“Ladies, she mentioned y’all going back to work. Do it and I’ll take care of Susanna,” the sheriff ordered, and the women raised their eyebrows then winked at Susanna.
“Yes, sir,” Elise teased before she walked away.
“You are so commanding. Susanna likes that take-charge attitude in men,” Paula teased, and Susanna shot her a dirty look.
“Call me if you need anything,” Ava said, stepping back but seeming a bit concerned. Ava was the least timid of the seven friends. Susanna was the bossy one. Her friends sure did give up on helping her avoid the sheriff. It was as if they wanted him and her to get together. What they didn’t know was that his brother was interested supposedly, too.
She began to take a step and her side hurt as she tried to hold her blouse closed.
“You need to see a doctor.”
“I’m okay.”
“Let me take a look before we head upstairs.”
The sheriff slowly pulled her shirt to the side.
“Fucking son of a bitch. You need medical attention. Let me at least call Doctor Frank. He helps out the police and others off hours. He’ll see you.”
As she tried to move on her own, she felt the pain increase.
“Fine.”
The sheriff walked her out the back door to his truck.
He carefully lifted her up and placed her in the seat. She laid her head back and tried to
breathe through the pain while BJ called the doctor.
“He’s five minutes from here. Not a long ride, baby.” He placed his hand on her thigh and she stiffened. She wasn’t used to this type of attention or show of care. She questioned his intentions. It was learned behavior and her distrust of men. She tried to focus on how to get him away from her. Go see the doctor, get back to the club, and take some painkillers. She pulled her leg away so that his hand fell off. She snuggled closer to the door and as far away from his body as she could.
Before he drove, she saw him texting on his phone, and then he carefully pulled out of the parking lot. By the time they arrived at Doctor Frank’s house, he was waiting for them outside.
* * * *
As the sheriff began to help her remove her blouse, she gripped it tighter. “No. It stays on.”
He looked at her strangely and then at the doctor. “I can check her with it on,” Doctor Frank stated.
The back door opened and Monte stepped in, looking angry and concerned. She swallowed hard and tried to cover herself. He was taller than BJ by a few inches. His dark eyes matched his onyx hair.
“Maybe she needs some privacy,” the doctor suggested.
“She knows Monte. She’ll be fine,” the sheriff answered for her, but the truth was, she wasn’t fine. The pain instantly subsided and was replaced with complete and utter lust. Combined with the little twinge of fear she felt at seeing Monte, she was losing her calmness. She had too much to lose if these men found out about her past, and too many questions would be asked if they saw her scars. No, she couldn’t let BJ get the upper hand on her again, and she sure couldn’t be alone with the two of them.
She looked up at Monte as the doctor lifted only the front of her shirt to see her ribs. He pressed lightly, and she only cringed where the direct hit had occurred. Monte held her gaze until she turned away from him.
Around town, Monte was a mystery, yet people knew to avoid getting in his way or even speaking with him. They were scared of him, and that sent her emotions into a swirl of uncertainty and fear. Had he committed some sort of crime? She’d heard rumors that he was discharged from the military and then rumors that he still did secret work for the military. The rumors went on and on. No one was certain, but he sure appeared mysterious and also very serious.
* * * *
BJ tried his hardest to remain calm. He was lucky he hadn’t killed both men back there for attacking his woman. Susanna was his woman and his brother’s. After tonight, he was making it his mission to get through to her and break down those walls she’d built up over the years. This wasn’t a game, and he and Monte had waited long enough.
“I think your ribs are just badly bruised, but I want to be certain. The sheriff said you took a hard hit to the side with the piece of wood. Let’s take an X-ray.” Doctor Frank took her hand and helped her down off the table. Both BJ and Monte reached for her, but she was already down and in the care of the doctor. She gave them a look over her shoulder as the doctor helped her.
The doctor had an X-ray machine he used in his small home office while BJ and Monte waited in the other room.
“I can give you a gown to wear while I take the X-ray,” Dr. Frank told her. They were alone in the small room and she felt less exposed. She shook her head.
“You’ll have to take off the blouse.”
“I’ll keep it on.”
He stared at her a minute then took a deep breath.
“I’m trustworthy. I’m married and share my wife with my two brothers Jim and Troy. I’ve lived in Delite all my life. We’ve come to your place, Dixie Chix, and love it. It’s a nice establishment.”
She swallowed hard. He seemed like a trustworthy man she could tell but she didn’t want him to see her back. Although the lines had grown faint, they were still there and still noticeable. They were the damage done by a man she thought was her saving grace and lover. She suffered the consequences of her bad judgment until it nearly killed her.
“I appreciate your honesty, and I’m glad you like Dixie Chix, but I need to take advantage of the whole patient-doctor confidentiality thing, or we can just forget about the X-rays and the fact that we even met. I’m not sure if you can do that or not since I’m technically not a patient of yours, but it’s the way it has to be or I’m out of here, like right now.”
He raised one eyebrow at her. “I can offer that to you if it makes you more comfortable. I don’t want to cause you any trouble. I’ve had to do a few things under the radar, if you know what I mean?” He smiled.
She ran her fingers over the material of the blouse.
“You tell no one what you saw or that I was ever here.”
He was surprised by the seriousness of her tone. She could tell, but she didn’t give a shit. This information could cause trouble for her and her friends.
He nodded his head, and she removed her blouse.
He stared at her a moment, and then she turned around, pulling her long hair over one shoulder and to the front of her, revealing her back and a reminder of her past.
She heard his intake of breath, and she looked over her bare shoulder at him.
“No information, no questions, you never saw anything. Let’s do the X-rays.”
* * * *
“What the fuck happened back at Dixie Chix?” Monte asked as he leaned against the doorframe staring at the closed door where Susanna was.
BJ explained.
“You left her for five minutes and this happens?”
“I’m lucky that Carl knows that you and I are interested in Susanna, or I would have left there while this was going on in the back room. He called me on my cell phone and said she needed backup and was in trouble. I just wish he’d called me as soon as she headed downstairs all fired up and ready to take on men twice her size.”
“That type of shit can’t happen, BJ. Our woman is not going to place herself in harm’s way like that.”
“I’m worried about her.”
“Well, I did have a few minutes with her up in the office before we were interrupted.”
Monte raised his eyebrow.
BJ looked around to be certain they were alone. “I told her that we wanted her and I kissed her.”
“How was it? What was her response?”
“She kissed me back, but then she froze up as if something came into her mind. I released her, and she began to say she didn’t know what to do when we were interrupted. She’s attracted to me, to both of us. I’m certain.”
“How do you know she wants both of us?”
“Because she didn’t freak out when I mentioned us as a package and about the three of us pussyfooting around our attraction.”
The door opened, and both Susanna and the doctor came out. Susanna’s ribs were wrapped in an Ace bandage as the doctor pulled together some bottles of medicine.
“They’re badly bruised but not broken. Lucky for her. I hope you got the sons of bitches that did this handiwork.”
“I sure did, Doc. I appreciate you helping us out tonight,” BJ stated. Frank seemed different. It was just a feeling BJ got as they made eye contact.
“Not a problem. She’s a beautiful young woman that needs taking care of. Now you two be sure to keep her comfortable and come back to see me in a few days or sooner if she feels worse.”
“We’ll take care of her, don’t worry,” BJ replied.
The doctor explained the dosage and what to expect with the painkillers as Monte walked over to Susanna to help her to the door. Her blouse was torn at the shoulder, and a tear revealed part of her bra and breast. She covered it with the palm of her hand as they walked toward the door.
* * * *
Monte was trying to remain a gentleman here, but the sight of Susanna’s breast pouring from her white silk bra and being this close to her was just too much for him. He focused on helping her walk across the room, but the piece of fabric fell from her hand, revealing more skin and part of her bra and breast. He reached for the material and tri
ed to place the torn fabric over her exposed skin as she reached for the door in a hurry to leave. She pushed his hand away.
“I got it,” she scolded.
“I was just trying to help.” He held her gaze and wondered why she was on the defensive. She was stunning, with long blonde hair and great big green eyes. He was lost in thought, imagining her naked and in their bed, when he noticed the long, dull scar by her collarbone.
As if she sensed where his eyes stared, she abruptly pulled the shirt tighter, causing her ribs to ache.
“Don’t move so quickly.” He held her by her hip bones to steady her.
“Good night,” Frank called after them, and they both turned back.
They said thank you and then headed out the door.
“I appreciate your help. This was better than sitting around the ER. I can’t believe my ribs are bruised,” Susanna stated as she slowly walked to BJ’s truck with both his and Monte’s assistance.
“Thank God they’re not broken. That piece of shit hit you so damn hard.” BJ clenched his teeth as he opened the truck door.
This time Monte lifted her up gently and held her to him a moment. He stared at her, and she looked toward the seat, and then as if she realized he wasn’t moving, she looked at him again. Their gazes locked, and he knew he had a scowl on his face, but he was pissed off and worried.
“What is it, Monte?” she asked in a voice that sounded like she was scared.
“Nothing.”
He placed her gently onto the high seat of his brother’s truck and helped to strap her in. The scent of her perfume, sweet and fresh, attacked his senses. He wanted to kiss her so badly, but he knew if he did, he wouldn’t hold back. He would take what he longed for and what his dominant side wanted from his woman. She may not be his yet, but she would be soon enough. Tonight’s scare, the emergency text from his brother, was enough to take some years off of his life. He slowly closed the door as Susanna leaned her head back to rest. He saw the beads of sweat on her forehead. She was trying to blow off the real pain she was in and hide it from him and BJ. That was unacceptable.
The Sinful 7 of Delite, Texas 1: Her Double Delight (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 2