Love Loyal and True

by Stacey Joy Netzel

  She zipped up and bent for her socks, then tugged on her boots. That was everything—no, wait, her mask. A frantic glance yielded nothing, but she didn’t have time to care as Loyal clutched the cape at his waist and slid off the hay.

  “I’ll see you around,” she said.

  “Are you serious right now?” he asked with a dark glower. “Thank you and you’re leaving?”

  “One night,” she murmured. “We agreed one night.”

  “That wasn’t even an hour,” he retorted.

  Tears burned her eyes as she turned and fled the stall, nearly tripping on her boot laces.

  “Roxanna—wait.”

  She flipped the lock on the outside door and yanked it open, praying he wouldn’t follow her. If he did, he’d need to get dressed first. That should hopefully buy her enough time to escape.

  She was almost to her Jeep when a voice behind her made her heart stutter.

  “Rox?” Asher called out.

  Nooo.

  Her churning stomach twisted up tight. She fumbled with her keys to unlock the door, then yanked it open as he and Honor walked up.

  “Hey. I thought you weren’t coming?”

  “I wasn’t, but then I did. I thought I would try, you know, for the kids, but I’m still not feeling up to it, so I’m going home.” She was babbling like an idiot. Asher would know something was wrong, so she avoided looking at them and slipped into the driver’s seat.

  Honor stepped forward before she could shut the door. She reached in and pulled a piece of hay from Roxanna’s dark curls.

  Her breath hitched as she met Honor’s green gaze.

  “Are you okay?” her friend asked softly.

  “I am.” Skepticism laced the redhead’s expression, so she insisted, “I swear. I just…need to go home. Right now.”

  “I’m going to check on you tomorrow.”

  She nodded, knowing the cake baker wouldn’t take no for an answer. Finally, Honor moved back and Roxanna shut the door. She saw Asher frown when Honor backed him away from the Jeep. She’d have to talk to him tomorrow, too.

  Good Lord. She was going to have to tell him she’d slept with his brother. Hopefully he wouldn’t hate her. If she lost his friendship…the friendship of his whole family…

  As she drove away from the Diamond mansion, the tears that had been burning her eyes trailed down her cheeks. She dashed them away and cursed the stupidity of her heart.

  She hadn’t been emotionally strong enough to give readings, what the hell had made her think she could handle the repercussions of sex with Loyal?

  Exceptional, mind-blowing, life-altering sex.

  Chapter 16

  Anger eclipsed Loyal’s stunned confusion when Roxanna disappeared out the door.

  “Thank you.”

  “You were exceptional.”

  “I’ll see you around.”

  What. The. Fuck?

  And why was his chest so damn tight he couldn’t draw in a fucking breath of air?

  He yanked on his stupid costume and swiped up the cape and blanket as the stable door opened. His heart leapt that she’d come back, and he lunged from the stall into the aisle. The sight of Asher and Honor sent a sharp stab of disappointment through his chest.

  Fucking A. What the hell was wrong with him?

  “You have got to be kidding me.” Asher strode forward with a dark frown. “Tell me what I think just happened in here did not happen.”

  Sonofabitch.

  He knew he’d screwed up, and yet his hackles still rose at his younger brother’s angry tone. “It’s none of your damn business.”

  “Come on, man. You and Roxanna? The two of you can’t even stand the sight of each other.”

  “We called a truce.”

  “So this was mutual?”

  His jaw went slack in offended shock as he darted his gaze between his brother and his sober-faced fiancé. “Of course it was mutual,” he bit out. “I can’t believe you would even ask that.”

  “I think what Asher meant was, Rox seemed upset when she left,” Honor murmured.

  He jerked his head up. What was she upset about?

  “Did you two argue or something?”

  “No.” She hadn’t given him a chance to argue anything.

  And what, exactly, would you have argued?

  His jaw clenched. He had no clue.

  “I don’t know what the hell is going on, but you’d better not hurt her,” his brother warned.

  “Me hurt her?” Resentment surged forward again. “She’s the one who just fucked me and left.”

  Honor’s eyes widened, and Asher’s fists clenched at his sides. “Don’t be so crude.”

  “Well, she did. But whatever. Like I said, it’s none of your damn business.”

  He brushed past the both of them and left exactly as Roxanna had such a short time ago.

  When he got to his vehicle, he sat in the driver’s seat and stewed. Why was he so angry? And why was his chest still so tight every breath hurt? He should be relieved the virtual virgin hadn’t turned into a clinging vine begging him to love her.

  Dramatic much?

  He growled his frustration at the voice in his head and started the engine to drive to his hotel. Family obligations or not, he never should’ve come to the damn party. The numbers he wrote on his checks had never screwed him over and left him wanting to punch something.

  By late Monday afternoon, Loyal was going out of his ever-loving mind—because he couldn’t get Roxanna out of his mind. With his father’s campaign in hyper-drive for the election the next day, he should have been able to keep his thoughts occupied with something other than the smell of her, the taste of her, the sexy sounds she made when he made her come.

  Should have, but failed. In fact, he’d gotten hard twice at headquarters and had to think about his fucking half-brother to calm himself the hell down. How pathetic was that?

  Now, he found himself parked in front of Lift Your Spirit two minutes before closing. One glimpse of Roxanna under the store lights as she wove gracefully amongst the inside displays and his spirits were lifted.

  So was his dick.

  Obviously, one night with her—one time with her—hadn’t been enough. But maybe a few more would work her out of his system, and they could both be on their merry way.

  He was out of the Land Rover and pushing the door of her shop open before he could debate the wisdom of his plan.

  Really? That’s a plan? Sleep with her a few more times?

  It was as good a plan as any.

  The chimes that announced a customer’s entrance mixed with the musical notes of a set of wind chimes Roxanna lifted toward a hook on one of her displays. She shot an absent glance over her shoulder as she said, “Sorry, but it’s closing—oh.”

  Her surprised gasp was punctuated by the discordant clanging of metal as the chimes fell from her hand. Her gaze held his for a heart-stopping moment, then she quickly stooped to pick up the fallen merchandise.

  Loyal flipped the Open sign to Closed, turned the lock, and slowly wound through the shop displays toward her.

  “Hi,” he said.

  She hung up the chimes before moving to the register counter, her dark brows furrowed with her sideways glance. “What are you doing here?”

  The breathless tone of her voice sparked hot, vivid, replay snippets of the stables, and sent blood rushing below the waistband of his khakis. She was wearing that earth-toned skirt from last weekend, the one that covered her from waist to ankle. Thing was, now that he knew what she hid underneath, he wanted to sit her up on that counter, lift the material to her waist, and bury himself in her heat. Then he’d take her upstairs so he could take his time and taste every inch of her body while she breathed his name over and over.

  Shit. Now he was hard again. And, unfortunately, the moment he’d entered the shop, he realized “let’s do it a few more times until this thing between us fizzles out” wasn’t really a plan after all.

  Honor�
��s comment had come back to plague him the past couple of days. Had Roxanna really been upset when she left the other night, and if so, why?

  She moved to stand behind the register and shot him quick little glances as he stopped with the counter between them. Something akin to relief flickered across her expression.

  He narrowed his gaze at that glimpse of emotion. Is that why she’d been upset—was she afraid of him? The idea that she might be turned his stomach. He hadn’t done anything to frighten her, had he?

  “Did you hire a new accountant yet?”

  Her head jerked up, and she gaped at him. “What? How did you know I—”

  “That night you were drunk. You complained your accountant got married and left, and now your numbers don’t add up.”

  Color infused her cheeks. “Oh.”

  He pulled a newly printed card from his pocket and held it out to her. “If you haven’t hired someone yet, I’d like to offer my services.”

  She stared at the charcoal, gold-foil embossed card as if he were handing her a snake. Or maybe a rat, because maybe she liked snakes. He suddenly wanted to discover everything she liked and didn’t like.

  She huffed out a breath as she lifted her anxious gaze to his to repeat, “Seriously, what do you want?”

  I want you to say my name again.

  He wiggled the card between his thumb and forefinger, and finally she reached to swipe it from his grasp. That tiny glimpse of her usual salty self eased some of his tension. Her lashes lowered as she stared at his name and credentials stamped in gold foil on the dark card. But then he noticed her shoot him another glance from beneath her lashes. When her gaze lingered below his chin, and the tip of her pink tongue darted out to wet her lips, he relaxed even more.

  Not afraid. Aware.

  And, maybe afraid of what he made her feel. She’d left so fast the other night, but was it possible she still wanted him as much as he wanted her? Was once not enough for her either?

  God, I hope not.

  He shifted his stance, and she quickly focused her gaze on the card in her hand again. “Are you actually being serious right now?”

  “I’m always serious when it comes to numbers, Roxanna.”

  He let his voice drop a notch lower when he said her name, and noticed her hand tremble in reaction. When she lowered her arms to clasp her hands behind her back, the move pushed her small breasts against her snug, long-sleeved, black shirt.

  Loyal’s breath caught in his throat as his blood rushed below his belt buckle yet again.

  Holy shit. This was not normal. He was about three seconds away from vaulting over the counter to get to her.

  “Have you hired anyone yet?” he asked with a hint of impatience.

  She shook her head.

  “Then, as my first client, I can offer you a substantial discount.”

  Her head tilt was laced with suspicion. “What’s the catch?”

  I want you to be mine.

  His Adam’s apple bobbed with a hard swallow. Whoa. Easy there.

  “Why would there be a catch?”

  She stared at him intently, as if trying to get a read on him. He gulped again at the possibility she was using her psychic wiles to see into his head.

  You don’t believe in that shit, remember?

  Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, he insisted, “There is no catch. If you’re happy with my work, give me a good recommendation should anyone ever ask.”

  Her gaze slid down again and his blood heated. Then she looked to the side and shrugged her slim shoulders. “I’ll think about it.”

  What?

  “What’s to think about?” Exasperation sharpened his voice.

  Desperation was more like it. He wanted a yes, right now. He wanted her to take him in the back. Right. Now. So he could work on her numbers.

  One orgasm, then two.

  Her chin rose at his tone and she shot back, “Whether or not I want to deal with you being an ass on a regular basis, for one.”

  The sudden urge to grin took him by surprise. He barely contained it as he asked, “And two?”

  She hesitated. “What exactly do you mean by substantial discount?”

  This time, he couldn’t contain a small smirk of victory. “Whatever you think is fair. Maybe throw in a dinner or something.”

  “Or something.” Her voice had now gone hard. She rocked back on her heels and folded her arms in front of her. “There it is.”

  “What?”

  “I’m not going to pay you with sex, Loyal.”

  He’d wanted her to say his name, but not in that pissed-off, offended tone. Heat climbed the back of his neck even as his dick got stuck on the word sex. “That is not what I was suggesting at all.”

  “No? So, if I said let’s go in the back right now, you’d say no?”

  His heart nearly stopped in his chest. Holy fucking shit. She had read his mind.

  Seriously freaked out, he took a step back.

  Her eyebrows rose in challenge. “Yes or no, Loyal? What’s your answer?”

  This time her voice went the slightest bit husky when she said his name, and with the way his pulse reacted, he couldn’t have lied if his life depended on it. “Yes. But it wouldn’t have a damn thing to do with accounting.”

  The words sat between them, and in the silence that fell, the wanting between them became a tangible thing. Her face flushed, and her breathing turned as shallow as his. He waited for her to invite him to the back.

  Begged her with his mind to invite him to the back.

  She uncrossed her arms, looked at his card again, and then brushed the edge over her palm as she stepped around to his side of the counter. Anticipation slammed his heart against his ribs, but she bypassed him without a glance and strode toward the front door.

  As she walked, she said over her shoulder, “Like I said, I’ll think about it. Come back tomorrow and I’ll let you know.”

  He trailed behind her like a damn dog panting after a bone. “Tomorrow’s the election.”

  “Right.” She unlocked the door and held it open for him to leave. “Wednesday night, then.”

  Night. She’s already said yes. She’s just making me sweat.

  All right, fine, he’d play the game. He could wait two more nights.

  Fuck. Two more nights.

  “Wednesday night,” he agreed.

  Knowledge shimmered in their shared smile, and then she dropped her gaze and practically hugged the edge of the door, his card still clutched in her fingers. “Goodnight, Loyal.”

  Holy mother, he loved his name in her voice. He had to shove his hands into his pockets to keep from reaching for her. He wanted to kiss her, just a taste to tide him over, but one touch, and he’d bet a million dollars he wouldn’t be going anywhere.

  Instead, he asked, “Do you like snakes?”

  Her head jerked up and a confused smile tugged at her mouth. “Does that question have some sort of hidden meaning?”

  Loyal laughed. “No. It’s completely innocent and serious. I swear.”

  “O-kay.” She eyed him for one more moment before answering, “Yes. I like snakes. Why?”

  “No reason in particular. How about rats?”

  That one drew a frown. “Now I’m scared.”

  “Of rats?”

  “Of you, and your questions. Why are you asking me about rats and snakes?”

  “Just curious.” He smiled at her perplexed expression and stepped out into the light cast by the overhead streetlamps. “Good night, Roxanna.”

  Chapter 17

  Roxanna locked the door after Loyal, flipped her sign to Closed, realized it had already been flipped, and flipped it back again. Worried he’d see her acting like a befuddled idiot, she hurried to the register counter to turn off the lights for the front of the store, then turned around to lean against it as she pressed her hands to her hot cheeks.

  What the hell had just happened?

  And what the hell did I just agree to?
<
br />   Sex with Loyal is what she’d agreed to. Again.

  Oh, he could pretend he was offering his accounting skills all he wanted, but they both knew what services he was really coming back for. So much for one night. Her heart raced, and her body tingled in places he’d pleasured so exceptionally two nights ago.

  She’d thought he might kiss her at the door—wanted him to—but thank the Lord he hadn’t. One touch of his lips and she’d have said the hell with waiting until Wednesday. She’d have hauled him in the back to the over-sized lounge chair in her reading room and had her way with him right there.

  Her core muscles clenched with longing.

  Thank God he hadn’t called her bluff. By respecting her request, he’d saved her without even knowing it. He’d given her time to think things through with a rational mind instead of a wanton heart.

  So the real question was, could she do it? After all these years of fantasizing about him while also hating him and now liking him, could she sleep with him for as long as it took for him to get tired of her and still escape with her heart unscathed?

  The swift, painful squeeze in her chest confirmed her worst fears.

  No, she couldn’t.

  Somehow, between now and Wednesday, she had to figure out a way to make herself immune to Loyal.

  Yeah. Somehow, between now and Wednesday, she had to figure out how to do the impossible. Unfortunately, she was more likely to get the numbers in her accounting program to add up.

  Numbers.

  Roxanna straightened as her brain started working again. That was the key. She’d make it all about business. Call his bluff and actually have him balance her books—and pay him money to do it.

  She blew out a shaky sigh and brushed her hair back from her face before finishing up her closing procedures.

  Tuesday morning, she made it out to vote and back again before opening the shop at nine. It was a busy day of stocking new inventory with Tessa and Darcy in between scheduled readings, and as soon as she locked the door at six, she went upstairs to change and get ready for the Governor’s election night party. Early exit polling put the race closer than expected after the opposition party had done everything they could to spin the hell out of the now-old secret love child story and discredit the Governor.