by Chloe Lang
“When Dylan and Nicole show, we can ask them.” Shane knew Dylan had gone to TBK after the big dinner today. “I’m sure he’ll have a progress report for us.”
Jason smiled. “He always does. Dylan’s a friend, but he isn’t someone I would want to be on opposing sides.”
“Me either, buddy.” It felt good to be back to normal with Jason. “But Dylan has softened a little bit since him and Cameron finally settled down with Erica.”
“That’s for sure. I even saw a smile cross Dylan’s face over at your parents’ diner last week when he was having breakfast with Erica.”
“You’re one to talk, Jason.” Shane looked at his future brother-in-law. Jason and his brothers were going to marry Phoebe in the spring. “My sister has definitely corralled you, Lucas, and Mitchell.”
“It’s true, and I’m happier than I’ve ever been.” Jason took a deep breath and looked him straight in the eyes. “She’s the love of my life and my brothers’, Shane. What about you? When are you and Corey going to settle down? Everyone in town has seen you two with Amber Stone’s sister, Belle. Seems to me she might be about to corral you and Corey.”
“You sound like Ethel and Gretchen, Jason Wolfe. I never thought of you as a matchmaker.”
“I’m not. Play all you want, Shane Blue. Bed a hundred women if you like. But I can tell you that the love of the right woman, that special someone…there’s nothing like it on earth. You’re my friend, Shane. I only want you and Corey to be happy.”
It was so good to be past all the bullshit his undercover assignment had forced on him and Jason. “I’m ready to settle down with Belle. She is the one, but something is holding her back. Corey, too, seems to be trying to hit the brakes.”
“Don’t let him. Trust your gut, Shane. Do what you have to do to make sure you have a future with Belle. Corey will come around. You’ll see.”
They heard footsteps coming down the hall and both of them placed their hands on their weapons as protocol demanded, though it was likely their replacements.
Corey appeared at the end of the hallway. He walked over to them.
“Your shift doesn’t start until six in the morning, bro.” Shane looked at the time on his cell. 9:51 p.m. The dance wouldn’t end for a couple more hours. “What are you doing here and where is Belle?”
“I just dropped her off at Stone Ranch. She was exhausted from all the cooking yesterday and today. Also, I came because I wanted to get an update on this Trollinger and Kip issue.”
Something on Corey’s face told him there was more to the story than just exhaustion and that he’d come for more than just wanting to be filled in on what was going on with their mission.
More footsteps. This time, the expected duo, Dylan and Nicole, walked up to them.
Dylan, in typical Dylan fashion, didn’t wait for “hellos” or handshakes but jumped right in. “Good news, men. The tech trio believes they’ve come up with something to keep Lunceford out of our systems. Our ROCs will be fully functional and secure by ten tomorrow morning. Jena wants us all to log on ten minutes later. She and her guys will run a couple of tests. If all goes well, after that, we should be good to go.”
Nicole turned to Shane and Jason. “How was the shift?”
“Quiet. Dead quiet.” Jason always carried quite the load, being Swanson County’s main peace officer. He cared deeply and took his job as sheriff very seriously. “Besides the ROCs, did Black or Jo dig up anything else on Lunceford or Trollinger?”
Nicole nodded. “I just saw Black at the dinner. The agents in Seattle found an envelope in the mailbox mentioned in the letter Kip sent to Cindy. Inside was five hundred thousand dollars’ worth of diamonds. They’ve got to be some of the jewels Lunceford stole from Anton Mitrofanov’s father back in Chicago.”
“I’m beginning to think Cindy is telling the truth,” Jason said.
Corey pointed to the closed door of Trollinger’s room. “There’s no way that Kip’s sister isn’t part of some bigger plan, whether she is telling the truth or not.”
“Did they find anything else?” Shane looked at his teammates. The bond he felt with them and the other members was deepening.
Nicole continued, “A note addressed to Cindy. It was from Kip telling her to meet him in Aberdeen, which is about two hours from Seattle. The agents went there and discovered a warehouse full of computer equipment.”
“What about Kip?”
She shook her head. “They believe he had been there though. The place looked just like the kind of command base Lunceford has set up before. There are agents in place in case he or any of his associates return. Our tech trio will get all the recovered equipment by tomorrow. You know them. They’ll be able to use what they find in it to help us with our search. I think we’re closing in on the asshole.” Nicole’s words were met with all of them nodding their heads in agreement.
“God, I hope so.” Jason sighed.
“We also got a verification on Trollinger’s story about the man bumping into her at Donna’s Diner in Twin Falls,” Dylan said. “A waitress remembered the incident and gave an accurate description of Cindy. She also said the guy who spilled the drink on her had tattoos down his arm and spoke with a Russian accent.”
“Everything Trollinger has told us seems to be true.” Corey was clearly beginning to come around some, if only some, that Cindy might be telling the truth about everything.
Shane wondered if he’d misplaced his distrust. Maybe the woman was in danger. Maybe Kip was really coming for her, though there’d been no sign of him coming to Destiny yet.
“Damn, that’s some coincidence,” Jason said. “Kip is known to be working with the Russian mob and it just so happens a man with tattoos down his arm is in the same diner with his sister.”
“All we can do now is keep poking around in every hole we can find until we locate that damn snake,” Dylan state flatly.
Jason nodded. “When it’s quiet like this, we all know to expect the worst.”
“Exactly why we must remain vigilant, sheriff.” Dylan was one of the best agents in the entire CIA. “Flowers and I can take it from here.”
“I’ll be here at six sharp.” Corey turned to Shane, his stare revealing he had more to say.
Shane patted Jason on the shoulder. “See you tomorrow.”
Jason nodded and left.
He and Corey walked down the hallway to the back of the courthouse. “Did you park at home or here?”
“Truck is in the garage. Need to stretch my legs.”
Just last week, he and Corey had rented a house on Second Street, one block behind the courthouse. Now that he didn’t have parole to deal with, since his cover was no longer necessary, he didn’t have to live with their parents. He and Corey were close, so residing together made sense.
Shane walked out into the brisk November air. Before crossing First Street, he turned to Corey. “So I know you didn’t show up at Trollinger’s room just to talk about the mission, did you?”
“No. You always can read me like an open book, can’t you?”
“Yes, I can.”
They crossed the street.
“Let’s get home. Pour us a couple of drinks and then I can tell you what happened tonight. I just need to get my thoughts together. And make sure we are on the same page, bro.”
Shane’s gut tightened. “Belle is okay?”
“Yes, at least I think she is. But we do need to have a serious talk.”
Five minutes later, they were in their house.
Shane grabbed a bottle of whiskey and poured drinks for him and Corey. They sat down at the kitchen table.
“Corey, what happened after I left the dinner?”
His brother filled him in, telling him about the drive back up to the lookout. “Belle is skittish, Shane. I could tell she was ready to bolt. I don’t know what came over me, but I just couldn’t let her go. We had sex, which blew my mind.”
Shane nodded, recalling how incredible it had been to make
love to Belle. “She’s like no other, bro. I know.”
“Belle kept telling me it would never work between the three of us but wouldn’t say why. She told me she wants to talk to you and me tomorrow.”
“Fuck. That doesn’t sound good to me.”
“To me either. I think the best course of action would be to see her separately for the time being. She may not realize that’s best for her, but I’m sure it is.”
“Not a bad idea. If we keep her from seeing us together, she won’t have the chance to break things off with us.”
“She’s not from Destiny, so let her warm up to the idea of having two men. We can date her individually in the more traditional way—one on one.” Corey took another gulp from his glass. “I know I told you to go slow. That’s what I thought you needed, but now I know I was wrong. If we go too slowly we lose her. I’m sure about that.”
“Me, too.”
“I can’t lose her, Shane.” The intensity in his brother’s voice shook him to his core.
He grabbed his shoulder. “We won’t.”
“She’s holding back something. I can feel it.”
“We have to work together to get her to open up. Once we know what she’s dealing with, what is keeping her from committing to us, then we can turn things around.”
“I can tell she cares for us. That’s why I just don’t get it. She keeps saying she wants to keep things casual, but I know that’s a lie.”
Shane nodded. “Whatever demons she’s dealing with, it is past time for you and me to slay them.”
“Damn right.” Corey lifted his glass. “To our most important mission, Shane. To winning Belle’s heart.”
“Now that’s a toast I can get behind.” He clinked their glasses together. They both drank the rest of their whiskey.
“I better get some sleep. I’ve got to be back at Trollinger’s room in the morning.”
“Night.” Shane watched Corey head to his bedroom. He poured himself another shot. It was good to have his brother by his side. They made quite the team.
Whatever it takes, you’re ours, Belle. You’ll see.
* * * *
For the millionth time that night, Belle glanced over at the blue numerals of her clock radio.
2:18 a.m.
No matter how tired her body was, her mind wasn’t going to shut down and let her doze off.
She turned on her lamp. She’d already finished the book on her nightstand. It was a spicy tale by Sophie Oak, one of Amber’s favorite authors.
Belle considered giving it a reread, but quickly decided against it. The tale was definitely worth it. But since every hot paragraph would only remind her of Shane and Corey, she knew cracking its pages would only add to her restlessness and already keyed-up body.
She clicked on the television. Nothing but infomercials. Whatever the two women on the screen were selling, she had no clue. Her thoughts were on Shane and Corey and nothing else.
Swinging her legs off the bed, she put on her robe. Time to see if a glass of wine might help with her current state of insomnia.
She walked out the door quietly, hoping not to disturb the rest of the people in the Stone house. A light was on in the kitchen. Someone else was up.
She tiptoed ahead and saw it was her sister standing at the kitchen sink. “What are you doing up so late?”
“Heartburn.” Amber held up a glass of milk. “Thought this might help. Doc tells me it’s normal at this stage of pregnancy.”
Belle laughed. “Remember when Mom told us that when you have heartburn your baby is supposed to have a lot of hair.”
Amber smiled. “Then I must be carrying Rapunzel. By the way, Sis, why are you up at this hour?”
“My heartburn is emotional, so I thought I’d have a glass of wine to settle mine down.”
“Okay, since neither of us can sleep, why don’t we sit down and talk.”
“I’d like that very much.” Belle filled her glass with her favorite merlot.
They sat down at the table together.
Amber took a sip of her milk. “Ah. That’s better.”
Belle brought her glass to her lips. The red liquid warmed her up quite nicely. “Yes, it is.”
“So what mental issues are you dealing with? Is it still about Shane and Corey?”
She nodded. “Amber, I did just the opposite of what I should’ve done. I led with my heart and made a mess of everything.”
“So you’ve completely fallen for them, right?”
“That’s really an understatement.” She took another sip of wine. Sleep wasn’t going to happen tonight. “I’m in love with them, Sis. I can tell they have strong feelings for me. You should’ve seen them up at lookout point.”
Amber smiled. “You went with them together?”
She shook her head. “No. Shane took me there first. It’s on their parents’ land, not far from here. It’s beautiful. You can see the entire valley and town. It’s a special place for both of them.”
“You’re stalling, Belle. Spill it.”
“You know me too well, don’t you?” She told Amber what had happened with Shane and Corey.
“Oh my God, Sis. This is wonderful news.”
“You forgot, Amber, I can’t have children. I shouldn’t have let it go this far, but I needed them. I wanted to be held.” She felt the tears well up in her eyes. “I’m just a selfish bitch.”
“Stop it.” Her sister grabbed her hand. “You deserve happiness.”
She shook her head. “I can’t let this go on. They are wonderful men and will make amazing fathers. I can’t deny them a full life. It wouldn’t be right.”
“It’s not right for you to choose for them. They deserve to know why.”
“I know they do, Amber, but you should’ve seen their faces tonight. They both are ready to move things to the next level. In fact, Corey told me he wouldn’t let me go ever. If I tell them I can’t have children, I’m sure they will tell me it doesn’t matter. They’re such good men.” Her voice began to shake. “I want them. I do. Maybe we could have several years together that would be amazing. But in five or ten years, I would look at them and know I had stolen something so special from them. I can’t be with Shane and Corey. Can’t you see that? It will break my heart, but I must push them away. I’ve come to terms with my illness and that I will never have my own child. That’s my hell. I can’t drag them down with me.”
“Belle, you have not come to terms with anything. That’s why you’re still awake tonight. You want to be a mother. With all my heart, I want that for you. But even if you can’t carry a child, it doesn’t mean you aren’t a mother. Juan is yours. You’re his mother in every way. Doesn’t he deserve to have a full life, too?”
“Yes, but I don’t know what that—”
Amber held up her hand. “I just want you to wait before you make a final decision. Shane and Corey care about Juan, too. They’re up here two and three times a week taking him horseback riding and dragon hunting.”
“I know. Corey asked me to go on Cody’s next dragon hunting ride with him, Juan, and the other boys.”
“The four of you would make a wonderful family, Belle.”
That image only broke her heart even more. “It just can’t be.”
“Just think about it. Okay?” Amber was quite persuasive.
“I love you, Sis, but what difference will waiting to think more on the issue make? That’s all I’ve been doing since our very first date. Thinking. Over and over. I should’ve never agreed to go out with them in the first place. Now that I’ve slept with them it only makes things worse.”
“Belle, I know you think breaking up is your only choice but you’re wrong.”
“I wish you were right, but I have to do this. Every second that passes I fall deeper and deeper in love with them. If my heart is to survive, I must end it now.”
Amber squeezed her hand. “If you can’t wait, then at least tell them the reason. Let them know why you believe you’re not righ
t for them.”
“You’re the only one that knows my truth, Sis.” Knows I’m a flawed woman. “You’re right. They deserve to know. I will tell them.”
“I bet they will surprise you by what they say.”
She shook her head. “I can’t let that change my mind, Amber. I know you want it to, but I just can’t. I hate this, but I know it’s the right thing to do. The only thing to do. I’m going to fix this. I’m going to lead with my head this time.” Belle’s heart seized in her chest, reminding her of the hold it had on her. I have to talk to them together. It’s the right thing to do.
Chapter Nine
The Boys Ranch Grand Opening was in one day.
It had been two weeks since Belle’s late night talk with Amber. Funny, since they normally had their heart-to-heart sister talks in the early morning, but not so funny was that she hadn’t been able to talk to the guys together.
Shane and Corey were on guard duty for Cindy Trollinger, but worked different shifts, making things impossible for Belle.
She’d made up her mind that she had to talk to them together. How long would Cindy be in town? How long before Lunceford was captured? She hoped soon, for the town and for herself. Avoiding Shane and Corey was becoming more and more difficult.
Coming to their parents’ diner was a risk, as she might run into one of them, but she had an appointment with Alice, Eddie, and Curtis about the festivities.
Twelve new arrivals had joined Juan and the other boys. Things were crazy. They’d just learned this morning that two of the new boys had food allergies. She needed to make sure that their meals for the ceremony would be peanut free. The Blues were graciously providing all the food.
She walked into their diner.
Shane sat at the counter with Jason and Dylan. All their backs were to her, thank God. Shane hadn’t spotted her.
I knew this was going to happen. I can come back later for the meeting.
She was about to back out the door and leave, when Desirae, one of the waitresses, handed her a menu. “Hey, Belle. Haven’t seen you in here in a while.”