by Danae Little
Jameson rubbed a hand down his face and blinked his dry eyes. He needed sleep. Lowering himself into the recliner, he let his eyes rest on Sydney’s sleeping form. Every movement she made caused tremors to course through him as he tried to memorize her beautiful face and angelic presence.
He would protect her at whatever cost, and if he made it out of this, he would come back. If she allowed him, he would show her how a man should treat a woman.
~9~
The rooster crowing broke into the comfort of Sydney’s sleep. Slowly she became aware of her stiff body and a crimp in her neck. She tried to stretch out only to find her body trapped in the confines of the love seat. Her eyes shot open to green eyes watching her. An amused smile turned up Jameson’s full lips. Her heart hammered as she did her best to rub the sleep from her. How long had he been watching?
“Good morning,” he said, his deep voice soothing.
“Morning,” she mumbled, before narrowing her eyes. “How long have you been awake?”
“Pretty much all night.” He shrugged. “Not a sound from Guardian, or otherwise.”
“Well, that’s good.” She sat up and stretched. “That couch is not comfortable.”
“You looked so peaceful, I couldn’t bring myself to wake you.”
She rubbed the kink in her neck and yawned again. “You should get some rest.” She peeked out the window. The sun hadn’t risen over the mountains yet, but its light lightened the sky. Guardian must have heard her voice for he woofed his morning greeting and demand.
“Chores need to be done, and I should check the perimeter before you go out, especially alone.”
“I have a gun,” she said with a shrug.
A rumble sounded down the drive. She cocked her head to listen and Jameson rose, joining her at the window. Homer rode his quad to his normal parking spot. Jameson let out a breath. It tickled her neck, and her body suddenly flushed with heat. An urge to feel his lips on hers again coursed through her. She closed her eyes and stepped away from him before she did something that would later cause her pain.
“See, I won’t be alone.” She walked down the hall towards the restroom. “Go rest. Take my bed. It will fit you better.”
“Your bed?” He shuffled his feet and a soft pink filled in behind his growing beard.
“Yeah, I won’t be needing it.” She stopped at the bathroom door. “Go on. You need to sleep.”
When she exited the bathroom ten minutes later, she realized she needed to grab some clean clothes. She tip-toed back to the bedroom. The door stood open. Peeking in she saw Jameson sprawled out in her bed, breathing deeply. The breath caught in her throat. He looked good in her bed. His bare chest peeked above the covers. His shirt and pants sat neatly stacked on the nightstand. Her heart raced thinking of him in her bed almost naked.
He shifted in his sleep, and she chastised herself for staring at him. She backed out the doorway, deciding it wouldn’t hurt her to wear the same clothes until she took a shower that evening. She quietly walked back down the hall and began her morning routine.
***
A few hours later, Sydney carried the last pail of goat milk into the cheese room. Guardian barked from beside her, making her jump and almost tip over the full bucket. Her breath froze, and her heart went into overdrive. The bucket sloshed, goat milk spilling over as she hastily dropped it. She ran to the barn, grabbed her gun, and ran to the door to sneak a look. Was it the dark SUV? A truck door slammed before she made it to the door. Then she heard the tell-tale sing-song of her name.
Wil.
“Sydney!” he called again.
Her fists clenched. He was making this into an unwelcome habit. She swiped her hair behind her ears, took a deep breath, and then strutted out to the annoying visitor.
“Back already?” she asked, noticing she didn’t quite conceal her annoyance.
“Well, couldn’t pass up the invitation to coffee.” He winked as he greeted her with a kiss on the cheek.
A kiss? Really? What had gotten into him? “Coffee?”
“I know. I know. It’s late morning already. Something came up at the office that delayed me.”
Her eyes narrowed and fists shoved into her sides.
“Brunch?” He raised his eyebrows a couple times. “I’m feeling hungry.” He licked his lips in a way that made her skin crawl.
“You want me to cook for you?” She heard the hostility in her voice, not that it seemed to make it to Wil.
“Since you asked, sure!” he said, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards the house.
It took her a few steps until the shock wore off. Who did he think he was? “What are you doing?”
He turned towards her with his wide smile. “Why having some brunch with a pretty lady.”
Her heels dug in, and she yanked her hand from his. “Wil, you’re a married man.”
He shrugged, his smile never fading. “What does that have to do with anything?” He kept walking towards the house.
Anger consumed her in liquid lava. It stopped her brain from working. It wasn’t until he opened the screen door that reality hit her. Jameson was in the house! Her heart raced as she ran towards him.
“Wil, stop!” She purposely raised her voice, hoping Jameson was a light sleeper.
He froze in the doorway, a curious look on his face. “Geez, Sydney, it’s just a meal between old friends.”
She reached him on the porch, standing in the doorway, and frantically searched for a way to keep him out of the house. “I...I don’t want people talking,” she stuttered lamely.
His hand reached out and traced her jaw. “No one will ever know, baby.”
“What? No!” She stepped back. “That’s not what I meant. I’m a moral woman. You are married.”
“I know how you crushed on me.” He hooked his thumbs in his belt loop, a cheeky smile on his face.
“That was a decade ago, Wil.”
“So, it was.” He shrugged and stepped into the house.
“No, I...I...” She blew out an exasperated breath and tried to control her racing mind. “Wil, I need you to leave.”
“Why, baby? You have nothing to hide from me.” He took her hand and pulled her into the house with him. “No one will know.” He yanked her against him in what she thought he believed was a seductive move.
“No, Wil.” She put both hands up against his chest and pushed. He didn’t budge. “Please, don’t do this. You need to leave.”
“Come on, baby. I know you’ve wanted this since you came back. Don’t you think we waited long enough?” He leaned in until his mustache tickled her lip.
She pushed his chest, turned her head, and finally instinct took over. Her body went limp, and she slipped from his grasp. As she hit the floor, she saw him fly backwards. She looked up and saw Wil on the ground with a seething Jameson in hastily pulled on, but still unbuttoned pants, standing over him, his fists clenched at his sides.
“I believe the lady asked you to leave...twice.” Jameson’s voice came out from gritted teeth, deeper and darker than she had ever heard it.
“What?! Who are you?” Wil shouted as he scrambled back up. He looked down Jameson’s naked chest and unbuttoned pants and then to Sydney. His hand instinctively hovered over his holstered gun.
“Wil, I tried to tell you.” She ran over to stand between him and Jameson. The last thing she needed was that kind of drama. She snuck a glance at Jameson, his eyes seemed to shoot out fury, and they never left Wil. “This is, he’s...”
“Her fiancé,” Jameson’s voice shot out.
A tingle zapped down Sydney’s body, filling her with fire. Why did that sound so good?
Wil looked from her to Jameson and back to her. “Well, dang girl, why didn’t you say something?” Then he peered closer at Jameson, a perplexing look washing over his face. “Wait, you haven’t left town for almost two years...and you haven’t had visitors.”
“How would you know that?” Jameson growled.
“It’s a small town.” He shrugged, a cocky expression covering his face like he just figured out a secret.
“We met online,” she said hastily.
“Online?” Wil tugged on his hat, uncertainty playing in his eyes.
“Yeah, you know, a dating site.” She shrugged and stepped closer to Jameson.
“And you’re engaged?” He looked down at her hand. “I see no ring.”
“Well, what can I say?” Jameson’s voice had calmed, though she could still hear the edge. He pulled her into him and kissed the top of her head. Heat filled her, settling in the pit of her stomach. It felt so good in his arms, charade or not. “It was spontaneous. One look and I knew I couldn’t let her get away.”
Sydney looked up at those green eyes that smiled down at her. Why did it feel like he was being honest with that statement? For a moment she forgot the situation they were in, and she let the feeling of those words, of being in Jameson’s arms, of safety, fill her.
“Well, then, Mr.?” Wil asked and reality flooded back into her.
“Ja—“ Jameson started.
“Jake Monroe,” Sydney interrupted quickly, though she wasn’t sure why. “Meet Sheriff Wil Whitmore.”
“Well, Mr. Monroe, I guess I misunderstood the invitation.” Wil brushed off his clothes and threw his shoulders back.
“I would say so, Sheriff.” Jameson’s voice tightened again, and the slur to Wil’s title didn’t pass him up.
“I’ll take my leave then, but watch your backs.”
“What’s that supposed to mean, Wil?” She faced him, her hands on her hips.
“That means, there’s been more sightings of that gang I told you about. Word is, they’re looking for someone.” He stared pointedly at Jameson. “I don’t want to see Sydney get hurt.”
“She won’t as long as I’m around.” Jameson put his arm around her again and pulled her out of the way so Wil could leave.
“I see that.” He turned towards her. “Sydney, if you need anything, you know how to get a hold of me.” He tipped his hat and strode out the door to his truck.
Jameson and Sydney watched from the screen door as his dust settled in the driveway. Neither of them had moved. His arm still hugged her close to him. She savored the feeling of safety and the feeling of being in this together.
His eyes met hers. The pull felt magnetic and powerful. She wanted to stand up on tippy-toes and press her lips against his, but she couldn’t, could she? Should she? Her heart raced and the world faded—all except Jameson, his eyes, his lips, his touch, his smell, his protective presence.
“Meow.” Mr. Paws weaved in and out of their legs, breaking the moment.
“Online dating, huh?” Jameson’s eyes were bright with amusement.
“Fiancé?” she countered.
He shrugged, reluctantly letting her go.
“Not boyfriend, cousin, brother?”
“It’s the first thing that came to mind.” He rubbed his head again. “Thanks for the save. Almost gave him the only piece of information I know about myself.”
“Yeah, don’t know how that came from me so quickly.”
“Used to making things up?” he asked, eyebrows raised.
“We all have our fantasies, I guess.” She laughed, trying to ease the emotions that the last twenty minutes had overwhelmed her with.
“Where’s Homer by the way?”
“Ran into town for some grain.”
“You should have woke me.” His jaw clenched again.
She eyed him curiously. “I didn’t expect Wil to show up, nor him to make a move like that. He never has before. Lately he has seemed different, cockier.” Her body went rigid. She didn’t have to defend herself. Jameson wasn’t really her fiancé, and she didn’t have to answer to him.
“Right now, Syd,” Jameson’s voice softened, easing the bristling in her, “you have to expect the unexpected.” He rubbed a hand over his head with more force than before. “I am sorry I brought you into this mess. It wasn’t my intention. I should have never stayed.”
“Not like you had much choice,” she shot back at him.
“I can’t leave now.” He locked eyes with her, that intensity back and burning bright. “We’ll have to ride this one out to the finish, together. I promise, though, I will keep you safe.”
~*~
While Sydney finished taking care of the chores, Jameson snuck around the property as stealthily as possible. He needed to see with his own eyes what they were up against, and he needed to clear his head.
The corner of his mouth tugged up thinking of how he called Syd his fiancé. The look on her face made it all worth it. Playing the part had been even more fun, especially making that sorry excuse of a Sheriff jealous.
He shook his head. That guy was in on it alright. He had a snaky feel to him and an over-confidence that comes with playing with the big dogs. What did Syd ever see in that guy to call him a friend? Maybe he had been different when they were young. Power could ruin some people.
When he had awakened to Syd loudly telling Wil to leave, the sleep had cleared his head instantaneously. He almost came running out with no pants on, but at the last minute grabbed then, and just in time. That slimy guy had his hands on Syd.
The world had turned red then, and he had no idea what held him back, but it felt like training. It must have been years of training to keep that rage contained. Even with that control, he almost lost it looking down on that slime ball that had thought he could take advantage of his Syd. His. He shook his head. He had no more right calling her his than that dirty Sheriff did.
With the way that Wil had looked at him, Jameson knew he had put things together. Something would happen now. He could feel it in the way his hairs stood up on the back of his neck and the heaviness that lay in the air. Danger had arrived.
At that moment, Jameson froze. Fifty yards in front of him, a man leaned against a lodge pole pine. He wore a sleazy smile while he watched Sydney through the trees while she worked in the goat pen.
Jameson’s blood boiled. He clenched his fists and blew out his breath. All he wanted to do was smack that disgusting look off the man’s face. He leaned his head into the tree and closed his eyes. It wasn’t fear that pulsed through him. It was a need for action, a familiar pulsing that made him feel at home. He let it wash over him until he could focus on what had to be done.
Right now, the sleaze ball needed to remain unaware of his position, and Jameson needed to see how many more were out there. It only took him another twenty minutes of covert movements to find another in the woods across the way, and one more across the driveway.
Jameson breathed to slow his heart rate and thought. Right now the men collected intel. Their guns were holstered or stuck in their pants. They stood relaxed with a lazy air. This meant they had time, and maybe, just maybe, they wouldn’t recognize him. He had to give the faux relationship a chance to work, but more than anything, he needed to get Syd inside and safe.
~*~
Sydney finished checking on the new kids and left the barn with a smile. All four were healthy as could be and their mamas too, something that didn’t always happen. The sun sank close to the horizon, and she ran through a mental list of dinner options. She wasn’t used to so much food being consumed this quickly. A trip to town would be in order soon, but could they swing it?
The sound of boots pounding the dirt made her look up to see Jameson jogging towards her. His furrowed brows and tight shoulders told her something was amiss, which made his words all the more surprising.
“Hey Sweetie!” He called out, plastering on a tight grin. “You finished too? Want to join me in the shower?”
Heat filled her cheeks as he wrapped his arm around her, turning her back towards the house. Her body ignited in a full-on inferno. She opened her mouth, but she couldn’t figure out how to address the perplexing scene.
Jameson leaned in close, his lips brushing her neck, sending waves of electricity to her toes and back. She n
early stumbled from the sensation. Jameson’s grip on her tightened and his tense, whispered words caused her knees to wobble for a whole different reason. “We are being watched. Three men. Two in the woods and one across the driveway.”
She started to turn her head to look back.
“Don’t look!” he whispered urgently. “Just follow my lead until we get into the safety of the house.”
Her knees buckled then. Jameson swooped her up into his arms, planting a kiss on her forehead. He easily climbed the few stairs up the porch and onto the deck. She couldn’t help but think of the significance of crossing the threshold as they entered the house. That’s where the charade ended though. He set her down right inside the doorway and pushed her up against the wall, one hand by her head.
“Where’s your gun?” His whispered words were rough and urgent.
“One’s in the bedroom...” she started in that direction.
“What’s the hurry?” he asked in a normal tone. “Can’t wait to get into that shower?” Then he bent to nibble her neck again and whispered. “Stay close, don’t move from my side.”
His eyes swept the room as he shut the front door and locked it. He pulled her up behind him as he peered over the counter, under the kitchen table, behind the couch, and then they slinked down the hall. He toed open the bathroom door before easing in, checking behind the door and then the shower curtain. Then he shut the door and turned on the water.
“Where are the slugs?” he whispered.
“Slugs?”
“The bullets for your shotgun.”
“Oh.” Sydney’s mind swirled, and she steadied herself in Jameson’s gaze. “Closet, top shelf. There’s a rifle there too, and a handgun in my top right dresser drawer.”
Jameson’s eyebrows shot up.
She shrugged. Living out in the middle of nowhere, a girl had to be prepared. She remembered Uncle Joe teaching her how to use each gun and the purpose of each different type of firearm. Hunting had never been her favorite thing to do, but she knew how if needed and that was what was important.
“Keep the door closed and locked. I’ll knock three times and call your name, otherwise don’t open it.” Jameson’s serious gaze captured hers.