Rising Storm (8 page)

"Let's do it, babe! Call our contacts and make sure we find a time when the law is occupied. We also need to find a new place. That place on the farm worked so well until that old lady stumbled upon it." Andre gave his wife a kiss and patted her bottom to hurry her up the stairs.

"I know. It had such good access from all the counties. I'll look around and try a new place to throw the cops off. I'll let you know what I find and then we can go check it out."

"Sounds like a plan, babe. Check with our contacts when you call them and see if they have any locations in mind too. Mmm, dinner smells great."

"Thanks, hon."

Yes indeed, things were going good for them and on Sunday she'd thank God for it during prayer at church.

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Katelyn gave Zoti a pat on his head and was rewarded with a little tail wag. All the people in the clinic had been working hard to train him over the past couple of days. Since the night of her date with Ahmed, she knew Zoti would be going home soon. And now, three days later, he was ready to go.

"You look good, boy. You can go home with your new daddy." She looked up to a beaming Ahmed and smiled. "You take good care of him. Give him lots of rest and encouragement. He'll need training soon to help him adjust to his new life. Along with training, lots of love will help heal the wounds of abuse." Katelyn placed her hand in Ahmed's outstretched one and let him help pull her up from the ground.

"I can do all of that. I bought him food, bowls, a collar, leash, and multiple beds for the house."

Katelyn reached down and placed her hand on Zoti's big, wide head. Ahmed's warm dark hand reached for Zoti's head at the same time. His fingers intertwined with hers and she knew he was going to kiss her. She wanted this so badly. In her dreams he’d sweep her off her feet and kiss her with such passion that she couldn't help but fall in love.

Ahmed pulled her close and she felt her body go willingly. She placed her hand on his chest and felt nothing but raw strength. Zoti and Ahmed weren't all that different. She looked up into his eyes. They were black with passion as he brought his hand up to cup her cheek.

She felt his thumb caress her softly. Her stomach was doing flips and she watched in almost a state of disbelief as he brought his lips toward hers. It was a slow, deep kiss and the passion was… not there.

Katelyn pulled back and looked into Ahmed's face to see if she could read it. His face was blank and then he smiled again. Under her hand she felt him start to laugh quietly.

"Why are you laughing?"

"Your face is priceless. I can see the worry all over it. Don't worry. I didn't feel it either." Ahmed's smile dropped and for the first time since she'd been in Keeneston she saw sadness in his eyes.

"I wanted it to work. I wanted it to work so badly," she sighed and squeezed his hand.

"I know. Maybe a man like me, a man who has done the things I have, doesn't deserve to find love."

"Ahmed…"

"No, don't pity me. You're really not good at hiding what you're thinking Katelyn. I'm so thankful that you gave it a chance - a lot of women wouldn't have. But, I am hoping for one more thing from you."

"Of course, anything."

"I want your friendship. You are a wonderful person and I'm lucky to have you as a friend."

Katelyn felt her heart break. She had wanted that passion, that spark, to be there. It just hadn't been. It felt, well, it felt just as if she was kissing her friend.

"Of course!”

"Good. Thank you for saving Zoti." Ahmed leaned forward and kissed her cheek. When she opened her eyes he and Zoti were heading out of the room.

Dammit. She didn't know what bothered her most. That the spark wasn't there or when she had closed her eyes and kissed Ahmed, she had thought of a certain hazel-eyed sheriff. God, could things get any worse?

Marshall tried to smile at the woman across from him at his mother's dinner table. Pierce was on one side of him humming the bridal march under his breath and Miles was on the other side doing his best to talk to Cole the whole time.

Their mother had ambushed both he and his brother with two sisters she met at her hair salon. They had thought they were coming over for a quick dinner and instead came face to face with Prissy and Sissy. As her mother informed them during introductions, the girls were talented with hair and both wanted to be married and have kids soon.

Miles and Marshall had looked at each other with utter looks of fear and even Paige had tried to think of a reason for them to have to leave, but their mother had refused all attempts at escape.

"Is that your phone, Marshall? I thought I said no cell phones at the table," his mother gently chastised.

"Sorry, Ma, it's the office. They wouldn't have called if it wasn't an emergency."

"Well, at least tell Annie that she and Cade are expected here after her shift ends. You work her too hard."

"Yes, Ma." He answered the phone and talked to Annie before pushing his chair back in haste. "They're armed? I'll be right there." He hung up the phone and looked at the roomful of people staring at him. "Sorry, there's an emergency at the café. I have to go."

"Do you need my help?" Miles asked with a hint of hope in his voice.

"No, he surly doesn't," his mom answered for him. "Just hurry back before you boys head out for your poker night."

"Yes, Ma. Thanks for dinner, it was wonderful as always."

He kissed his mother's cheek and gave Miles a slap on the back as he hurried to the cruiser. He was going to need the lights for this one.

As Marshall approached the Blossom Café a growing crowd prevented him from seeing the situation inside. He flashed his lights and pulled up to the curb.

"Sheriff! I'm glad you
finally
decided to show up. Is there so much crime in Keeneston that it takes you ten minutes to get to the scene of an assault?"

Marshall stopped the curse coming from his lips, but just barely. Standing in front of him in all his pompous glory was Jack Jacks. His sandy blonde hair sliced down the side of his head and folded perfectly into shape. He wore a dove gray suit and red power tie against a white shirt. And right now he was pissed.

Behind him was a white-haired army. Miss Daisy stood with a wooden spoon, Miss Violet with a spatula, and Miss Lily was armed with her broom. Most of the patrons had emptied out of the Café and were standing on the street watching the spectacle and most likely placing bets.

"Miss Daisy, what's going on here?"

"Why are you asking her? I told you I was assaulted and I want those women arrested and I want them arrested now!"

"Mr. Jacks, you may be used to ordering everyone around at your hotels but not here. So, be quiet and let me listen to her. You'll have your chance to speak." Marshall watched his tan face turn red in anger, but he stayed quiet.

"This man came in here and ordered me to close the whole café just so he could eat. He then said some very ungentlemanly things to me when I refused. He said he didn't want to eat with all the noise. It would disturb him. Then he got angry and started yelling. Well, I don't know how he was raised, but I don't take a shining to behavior like that in my place of business."

"So, what did you do?" Marshall could see Mr. Jacks demanding the place for himself. It was a typical move on his part.

"Well, I did as I would do to any of the boys in town, what I did to you when you back-talked me that one time when you were twelve." Uh-oh. Marshall knew what was coming next. "I rapped his knuckles with a wooden spoon," Miss Daisy said proudly.

"There, she admitted it. Arrest her!" Jacks shouted.

"Mr. Jacks, please be quiet. What happened next Miss Daisy?"

"Well, instead of taking the lesson that was being taught and apologizing for being rude, he leapt up and tried to yank the spoon away from me. That's when Violet called Lily and then she smacked his hand with the spatula."

Marshall stared at her with his eyes opening wider in surprise. He'd seen them do this routine to badly behaved kids trying to steal desserts, but never to an adult. Although, when he was around Mr. Jacks, he felt the urge to hit him too.

"Is that all?"

"No. Then I asked him to leave and he refused. That's when Lily came in and shooed him out with the broom."

"Is that everything?"

"Yes. But, I have to say this to him. Mr. Jacks, bless your heart, but you are one rude and entitled jerk." The town murmured their agreement, which only fueled Mr. Jack's temper.

"You crazy old bat. Maybe you and your sisters can get a job cooking in jail." Mr. Jacks shoved his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels, pleased with the idea of the Rose sisters in jail.

"Father! What in the hell do you think you're doing?"

Marshall watched as Katelyn pushed her way through the crowd. Her face was flushed and her body rigid.

"Cleaning up this town of no consequence. I'm glad to see you. I need to talk to you when I'm done having these three tossed into jail."

"Father. Stop it. You will do no such thing. You will apologize to all these people for being an ass right now."

"See Katie, you were always too soft. You need to let them know who’s boss."

"Father, you are not their boss and they are not your employees. Now apologize right now and stop embarrassing me and yourself."

Her father paused and looked at the hostile crowd of people around him. Marshall watched as he debated what he wanted to do and he also watched the way Katelyn tried to hide her complete embarrassment.

"Fine. I'm sorry I yelled and even though you should be arrested, I'll let it go this time."

"He should’ve stopped after
I'm sorry
," Miss Daisy said to her sisters who all nodded in agreement.

"Okay. I'm sorry. Is that good enough?"

"Humph."

And with that the people of Keeneston turned and went back into the café leaving Mr. Jacks and his entourage on the sidewalk.

"I'm sorry for the trouble Sheriff," Katelyn said in a quiet voice. She was shy now, clearly upset at what had happened.

"It's alright. I should thank you for getting me out of a dinner at home."

Katelyn gave him a weak smile and ushered her dad into the big shiny black SUV waiting for him. Marshall looked down at his watch and smiled. Darn, too late for dessert at his mom's house. Too bad. Now it was time to play poker with the guys. But, he couldn't escape the bad feeling that he had jumped to some very wrong conclusions about Katelyn Jacks.

Chapter Seven

"I fold." Marshall laid his cards down and took a drink of his bourbon and coke. He was almost out of chips and it couldn't be soon enough. His mind was not in the game. He might as well just hand over his money.

"Marshall, ante up."

Cade nudged him and raised his eyebrow in question. Marshall tossed a chip into the center of the table and looked around Miles' new house as he waited for the bets to be placed. Miles had gone away from the traditional farmhouse that he, their parents, and Cade lived in, to a contemporary house with large windows overlooking the farm.

The house was extravagant in a totally understated way. It had large ceilings, two-story windows, and everything state of the art, shiny and new. It wasn't his style, but Miles had always been a little different from the rest of them. He liked suits and working in the corporate world. His house reflected it with sleek furniture and fancy artwork.

"Are you going to bet?" Cade asked him. "Or are you going to sit there staring off into space for the rest of the night?"

Marshall looked down at his cards. Nothing. Aw, what the heck.

"All in."

Twenty minutes later he sat down in a black leather chair and looked out over the fields as he sipped his drink. He saw Miles' reflection in the window and looked at his big brother.

"The house looks great Mi."

"Thanks. Now tell me what's going on."

"Just sitting here."

"You know that's not what I mean."

"Yeah, I know. Just thinking I made a mistake and I hate when I do that." Marshall looked down at the amber liquid in his glass and thought about Katelyn.

Miles clasped his shoulder and walked back to the poker table. Marshall's hand squeezed the tumbler as his thoughts turned to what Katelyn was doing now. She was probably with Ahmed, crying on his shoulder over her father's behavior. It should be his shoulder she was crying on. He downed the rest of his drink and reached for the decanter.

He had made a colossal mistake. He had been an ass for judging her on the basis of her father's actions. One of his first security assignments when he opened his own firm after he got out of the Army had been Jack Jacks. He had called and was coming into Lexington to ink a big deal for a new hotel.

The guy had been an entitled prick the whole time. He ordered people about constantly. He treated his assistants horribly. He berated them, ignored them, and yelled at them. To add insult to injury, he never once said thank you. It was just one demand after another.

Marshall had listened to him during his meeting about Katelyn, his hot shot model daughter, and just assumed she was as bad as her father. She had always been so quiet and cold when he saw her around town. But, he realized that was just his prejudice blinding him. He had mistaken shyness for coldness. He had mistaken her quietness for arrogance and snobbery.

What an idiot he had been. He had never even given her a chance. He should’ve known better. Any person who was so good and kind to animals couldn't be that cold and uncaring as he had previously thought. And any person who had made love to him the way she did couldn't be the snob he had thought.

But, now it was too late. He had lost his chance to really get to know her. If he hadn't been so blind, he could’ve been getting to know her over these last four, almost five months since their night together. Who knows where they’d be now. But it was all for nothing, she was with Ahmed now.

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