The Patriot Girl

by Toni Lynn Cloutier

Pulling in front of her house, he blocked the driveway. Racing out of his minivan, he saw the interior light shining inside her car. It illumined rose petals sprinkled on the driver’s seat.

  He made his way into the darkness of her backyard, pushing a recycle bin out of his path. A lit cigarette butt jammed the screen door from closing on her enclosed porch. He had a perfect view inside her home from the window above her sink.

  His breath hitched as MaKayla headed toward him in her white silk spaghetti-strapped nightgown. She wasn’t as conservative in her nightwear as he would have expected.

  His stomach knotted and his fist clenched knowing anyone else had the same view. Anger and guilt curled inside him. If he hadn’t been driving that night, she might still have a husband home protecting her. How could he prevent the past from sneaking up on him this way? Forget about that now.

  “MaKayla.” He needed to ease her mind and let her know she wasn’t alone.

  Footsteps approached. His hands fisted, ready… Before he could take a swing, a police officer rounded the corner.

  “Who are you?” The officer’s palm rested on the gun strapped to his hip.

  Dustin thrust out his hand. “Dustin James. MaKayla called me over. Did you check out her car?”

  The officer nodded and looked up as MaKayla turned on the porch light and opened the door. “Hey. Thanks for coming, both of you. Find anything?”

  “There’s a lit cigarette butt here.” Dustin still remembered how evidence could make or break a case. “Do you need this for DNA?”

  The officer slipped on a rubber glove then bent down and collected the item. “Sure. If we get a suspect, this could put him away.”

  MaKayla waved them inside. “It’s cold. Come on in.”

  They stepped into the kitchen and Dustin pointed to the window above the sink. “Whoever was out there had a full view of the inside of your house. You should keep that shade closed. MaKayla, there are rose petals in your car.”

  “What?” She pulled down the shade. “What does that mean?”

  The police officer walked to the front door. “How long have you been hearing these sounds, MaKayla?”

  “Kids use my yard as a shortcut all the time. But since my son left Saturday, the noises have increased. Tonight’s the first time I heard someone on the porch. I’ve never seen rose petals before.”

  Dustin placed his hand in hers. “I’m worried about you.”

  “If you hear anything else, call me,” the officer said. “I’ll patrol the area the rest of the evening. Sleep well.”

  “Thanks, Sam.” She locked the door behind him and then shivered. “I’m not comfortable having cops around.”

  Dustin rested his backside against the counter as he pulled her into his arms. “Why do they make you nervous? Your best friend’s husband is a cop.”

  “It’s the memories they stir up.” She shrugged. “When I was nineteen I was held hostage at gun point during a convenience store robbery. I was five months pregnant with twin girls at the time, Marsha and Meredith. They would have been the heirs to M & M Public Relations. The doctors believe the beating and stress from the robbery caused me to miscarry a week later. That might be why I’ve always been so watchful of Alex too.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “So now you know why your protection at the bank was such a big deal to me.”

  “I’m glad I was there.”

  “Me too.”

  ****

  MaKayla stepped back and saw that his eyes were full of passion and concern. She knew what they were asking and right now she couldn’t deny him.

  Her hands rested on his shoulders as she leaned forward and gently pressed her lips against his. His mouth opened and his tongue slid past her lips and intertwined with hers as if they were reuniting lovers.

  His hard chest pressed against her breasts as one hand glided through her hair and the other rested on her lower back, pulling her closer. Even harder was his excitement beneath the sweatpants pressed against her abdomen.

  How could something so wrong feel so right? She shouldn’t be mixing business with—whatever this was. Pleasure was no longer a word she’d use to describe how the feel of his hand rubbing her bottom aroused her or how the soft moans escaping her throat could no longer be controlled.

  His lips trailed down her neck. His fingers pushed aside the strap of her nightgown before his moist tongue teased the area. Her body had never felt so much passion toward a man. She’d never known a simple kiss could be this erotic. She fought to take her next breath as the throbbing between her legs intensified.

  He paused and took a deep breath. “I couldn’t handle something bad happening to you.”

  Her head leaned sideways and her cheek brushed against his hair. “Oh, Dustin, you’d only have yourself to blame.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “You keep suckling my neck that way and my heart is sure to pound out of my chest.”

  When he looked up, their lips met. His tongue dove harder and deeper into her mouth and her brain fogged with only one thought on her mind. She wanted this man more than anything. “Make love to me, Dustin.”

  He pulled back and swallowed hard. He took shallow breaths. “MaKayla, I’m having a hard time controlling myself. But we can’t go any further. Not now. Not until you’re comfortable with who I am.”

  As much as she wanted him to stay, he did have a point. His lips tasted too good and his arms would be a safe haven she wanted after tonight’s events. If guilt replaced the passion in the morning, it would ruin their relationship. They couldn’t let that happen.

  Hesitantly, she pulled herself out of his embrace. “You’re right.”

  He rubbed her shoulder. “Do you want me to stay so you’re not alone? I promise to keep my hands to myself.”

  She shook her head and smiled. “I can’t return the same promise if you stay. You should go. I’ll be fine.”

  “Sure?”

  She nodded.

  His lips brushed her cheek before she opened the back door and watched him disappear into the darkness.

  Chapter Ten

  Sitting behind her desk at Columbus Bank on Friday, MaKayla pulled the phone away from her ear. Had she been disconnected?

  She’d called WCMJ yesterday at break time and had been told to try back this morning. She couldn’t be kept on hold for much longer. It was almost time to leave to pick up her friends at the airport.

  “WCMJ radio. How may I help you?”

  “Mr. Peterson, please.”

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Peterson left the office a few minutes ago. May I take a message?”

  She’d hate to leave a message and have him call back when she wasn’t around. “I’ll call back this evening. Thank you.” She shut down her computer, removed her purse from her bottom drawer, and then headed outside.

  What a beautiful day for her friends to be flying home. No threatening thunderstorms, only sunshine and a warm breeze. MaKayla found a spot in the airport parking lot and headed inside.

  Duke and Jodi were on the escalator heading down to the baggage carousel. Apparently their flight had arrived early.

  Their red faces and glowing smiles provided evidence of a successful trip. MaKayla was sure she would be subjected to unwanted tales of how they had spiced up their already erotic relationship.

  She ran to her best friend and embraced her as if they’d been apart for six months, rather than six days. “I’ve missed you two.” She turned to hug Duke also.

  “We’ve missed you too.” Jodi hooked MaKayla’s elbow while they waited for the luggage. “How does Alex like school?”

  “He’s settling in. He’s worried about me being lonely, of course.”

  Jodi had to hear every detail about what Alex ate, talked about, and thought of his roommate. MaKayla shared what she could remember.

  “You look different.” Jodi moved her friend’s chin from side to side. “Have you been saddling up and getting bucked?”

  She’d bee
n getting bucked all right, but not in the fun way Jodi would approve. She pushed her friend’s hand from her face, but still held on to it. “I haven’t been saddling anything. Too much has happened.”

  Duke collected their luggage then escorted both ladies through the automatic doors.

  “Good news first, Sara had a baby boy. She named him Buck after her grandfather…who is now my new client.”

  “Oh, honey, that’s wonderful. He’s going back on the road?”

  “Not sure about that. Right now he’s asked me to help him promote his new ‘greatest hits’ album. I don’t know if he’ll have some new songs on there.”

  MaKayla opened her trunk and waited for Duke to arrange the bags neatly before she unlocked the car and sat behind the wheel.

  “Are Sara and the baby home? How are they?” Jodi asked.

  “Her grandparents say they’re home and doing great. I was thinking you and I could visit them this weekend.”

  Jodi buckled her passenger’s side seatbelt. “Of course.”

  MaKayla put the key in the ignition but turned so she could talk with Duke in the back seat too. “Ready for the bad news?”

  Silence, of course. No one was ever ready for bad news. Jodi’s hand reached out and touched MaKayla’s knee—a sign that her heart had plunged into her stomach too. Which bad news should she reveal first, Dustin or her night noises? “It seems that someone has been stalking my house.”

  Duke’s deep all-business police voice sounded. “What’s going on?”

  “I’ve been hearing noises outside—different from the normal kids-cutting-through-the-yard noises. Sam and Dustin came by Monday at two in the morning. Dustin found a cigarette butt on my back porch. But creepier than that was the rose petals left on my car seat, with the dome light left on.”

  “I’m back now.” Duke touched her shoulder. “I’ll patrol your area until we get to the bottom of this. It might be that prick from the bank. I’ll feel better when he’s in custody.”

  Jodi tapped MaKayla’s leg. “What else happened?”

  “Guess what I found out about Dustin?”

  “The cowboy from the bank robbery?”

  She nodded. “Yes. Dustin’s first name is Harold—Harold James.”

  “The Harry James, from Paul’s accident?”

  MaKayla nodded. “Still believe he’d make a good lovemaking partner for me?”

  “Yes. He’s not as conservative as Paul was. He’ll show you a good time.” Jodi’s tongue pushed out the side of her cheek, and she giggled.

  MaKayla’s eyes darted right—making sure Duke hadn’t seen the gesture. How embarrassing if he had.

  “Wait. This won’t affect your PR deal, will it? What happened with the contract Friday night?”

  “I’m still going to represent his club. But it will be business only. So there’ll be”—she pointed to Jodi’s mouth—“none of that.”

  Duke leaned forward and rubbed her shoulder. “You know, Mackey, the accident wasn’t his fault. I worked that case. That intersection is a deathtrap for anyone, especially in the rain.”

  Her family and friends could talk to her until they were blue in the face about the accident being no one’s fault. The past would always surface. Why didn’t they understand that?

  Friendship was the only thing she and Dustin could ever have. Although, had he not been the voice of reason the other morning when she suggested they make love, their relationship would have reached the next level. Now that she knew her judgment clouded when he kissed her, she’d be sure to never let that happen again.

  She turned around, started the vehicle’s engine, and headed to her friends’ place. “Dustin also closed Paul’s case. The insurance company will pay all his medical bills. That’s all he’s asking for.”

  “Oh, honey, you must be so relieved. I guess he’s okay from the coma he was in.”

  “Seems to be, except that he doesn’t remember a thing from the accident.” MaKayla filled them in on how she had stormed out after beating his chest the night he’d told her who he was.

  Jodi pointed a finger. “He seems like such a good man. Together you two can let the past go and move on.”

  “Did you know he had a daughter?”

  “Yes. I’ve seen her at the club.”

  MaKayla glanced at her friend. “I know her mother passed away. Do you know anything else about her?”

  “No. You might find this hard to believe, but I like to mind my own business.”

  MaKayla laughed out loud. That sure wasn’t the case when it came to her and Alex. “Oh…and I’m pretty sure Alex and Tammy made love.”

  “Had sex?” Jodi laughed. “Oh, honey, he’s growing up. There’s just no way you were going to stop it.”

  “I know. And the biggest news of all...I saw my mother cry. Can you believe she cried?”

  “People get soft in their old age.” Jodi sighed. “What happened?”

  “Rainbow died.” MaKayla glanced at Duke in her rearview mirror. “Okay. Enough about what’s happened here. Tell me about your trip.”

  Jodi described the wonderful time they had for the rest of the ride home.

  Dalton, Tennessee, was never the same when MaKayla’s friends weren’t occupying space in the area. Having them back home safe and sound made her world complete. And knowing Duke would be back on patrol soon, she’d be able to sleep better.

  ****

  On Monday afternoon MaKayla sat at the kitchen table and dialed the radio station’s phone number. With Jodi back in charge work had quickly returned to normal. Today she’d been able to leave at four.

  There shouldn’t be any reason not to catch Charlie Peterson at the station. There was still forty-five minutes until his Drive at Five show started. She hoped that would give him plenty of time to speak with her.

  Three rings sounded before a voice came on the line asking her to hold. The music gave her time to preheat her oven for a pizza and put on the teakettle.

  Her phone clicked. Call waiting was sometimes a blessing, but now that she was on hold, she hated to click over. It could be Alex. If she answered quickly, she could still stay on hold.

  She clicked over. “Hello?”

  “Hey, MaKayla. It’s Dustin.”

  “Hi. I’m on the other line. Are you home or at the club?”

  “At the club.”

  “I’ll call you back.” She clicked back over to hear the music still playing. The last two times she’d phoned the station she hadn’t been able to convince the woman she was important enough for Charlie Peterson’s ear. She had to approach this differently. October was only a few days away. She had to make this happen soon.

  “WCMJ radio. How may I help you?”

  Perfect. A new voice answering. “Hello. My name is MaKayla Adams with M & M Public Relations. I’m calling on behalf of a couple clients, Buck Wilson and Dustin James. Is Mr. Peterson available?”

  “Hold, please.” It was less than a minute before the woman came back on the line. “Ms. Adams, I’ll connect you now.”

  “Thank you.” Finally. Buck’s name had to have gotten the man’s attention. She should have done that from the beginning. Lesson learned.

  “Peterson.”

  “Good evening, Mr. Peterson. My name’s MaKayla—”

  “What about Buck Wilson?”

  What a crab. He acted so pleasant on the air. Better not to upset him. She’d hate for him to hang up on her and send her back to square one.

  “Mr. Wilson will be signing his new CD at the grand opening of a new nightclub in Dalton called No Bulls. Would you be interested in interviewing the owner the night before the event?”

  “Get me Buck and you’re on.”

  “I was thinking maybe the owner, Dustin James, could do an interview on your show to talk about some of the events happening at No Bulls.”

  “No Bulls. What kind of name is that? I’m not interested unless Buck’s the main guest. Send me an event schedule and I’ll get back to you.”


  “I’d be happy to send an event calendar. I think your listeners would enjoy a call-in segment where they could give suggestions on what events they’d like to see at the club, other than Buck’s CD signing.”

  Use your pitch, MaKayla. Throw that line far enough for him to bite.

  “What if we were able to offer a private, fifteen minute interview with Buck Wilson for a lucky listener? Mr. James could do the giveaway on the air.”

  For once Charlie didn’t cut her off. Hooked! Now all she needed to do was reel him in.

  “Mr. Peterson, No Bulls is more than your average country and western nightclub. It’s a cowboy’s dream and an opportunity for every local musician.”

  “I’m listening.”

  She explained the old rodeo and music memorabilia. “There will be open mic night twice a week. A scout from Buck Wilson’s record company will visit every now and again looking for new talent.”

  After ten minutes of questions and answers, his tone had softened. “Okay, I can fit your nightclub dude in two weeks from this Friday.”

  “I’ll take it.” She bit her knuckle to stop the scream. She’d done it. “Thank you, Mr. Peterson. I’m looking forward to meeting you.”

  When the phone went dead, she screeched. “Oh my gosh!” As the excitement withdrew and reality began to set in, her heart pounded. “Two weeks!” Had she given herself enough time to get press kits and announcements together?

  She’d have to teach Dustin how to get his message points across, and try to break him of his finger tapping. A few mock interviews with him wouldn’t hurt. The banter would get him ready for the give-and-take exchange between him and Charlie Peterson. This short phone conversation with the DJ had shown her that Charlie might be a real jackass with Dustin. Her job was to make Dustin aware of such situations, and prepare him for anything.

  She fumbled through her purse and pulled out Buck’s business card. He had mentioned the end of October but hadn’t given her a definite date. With a little luck, he’d be available for a signing and the fifteen-minute private interview.

  Then she needed to return Dustin’s phone call and set up an appointment with him.

  ****

  Sitting at the bar, Dustin glanced up at his best friend. Jesse Love’s blond hair and oval features hadn’t changed since they’d met at the age of twelve.