* * * *
“I can’t believe that you didn’t call Investigator Pellot, Stacy. This is way more serious than you thought. Hell, it’s way more serious than I thought, too. I was scared after the attack and then those creepy boxes and notes, but this is insane.”
“Calm down, Millie, and tell me what the heck you’re talking about,” Stacy said. Millie was talking a mile a minute.
“The investigator really needs to speak with you. Apparently your boss is suspected of multiple counts of rape and attempted rape. Three of the four women who accused him of either rape, assault, or sexual harassment wound up dead. The fourth one dropped her charges and refused to help the police.”
“What?” Stacy asked, and immediately she was shocked. She plopped down into the chair and felt her whole perception of life and the situation with her boss rotate until she actually felt dizzy.
“It’s true, Stacy. He has an alibi for the murders, but the investigator thinks that Weiner is responsible whether he hired someone or did it himself. They are building a case. He also said that there were other victims going back a few years that he and his partner are talking with. They want your help, Stacy. They want you to press charges against your boss.”
“Are they crazy? You just said he killed women.” She raised her voice, and when she looked around the kitchen to make sure that no one was there, she saw Max standing in the doorway. Eric was right behind him.
Max’s eyes widened in shock and then what looked like anger. She turned away and ran her hand over her mouth as her head began to throb. She felt her wet cheeks and realized she was crying.
“I’m not going to do anything like that Millie. I won’t go back there and testify and place my life or the lives of my friends in danger. If the investigators are watching my boss, which is what I hope they are doing, then I’m safest out here. If anyone tries to contact you to try and find me, you tell them that I vanished and you have no idea where I am.”
“The investigators know where you are, Stacy. They really want to talk to you, and they will come out there to see you.”
“Shit! What am I going to do?”
“He said for you to call him or he’ll be on the next flight out of New York.”
“Fine. I’ll think about it. I need to go.”
“Stacy, you need to talk with them and find out if you are in danger as they believe you might be. There was no evidence to prove that your boss had something to do with the three women being murdered, but they believe he had a hand in it. Think about the stuff he left you in your apartment. Think about the phone calls and those pictures that he took of you,” Millie stated, and Stacy began to cry.
“I know, Millie. I don’t want to think about that.”
“You have to, honey. You have to do whatever you can to keep yourself safe. What would Anna and I do without you?” Millie stated, and she began to cry as well. Stacy could hear her sniffling.
“Don’t cry. I’ll handle this. I’ll call you later,”
“You call me after you talk to the investigator and remember that the Cantrells are there for you, too. My aunt told me how much attention Eric and Max have been paying to you. Don’t decline their offers of support.”
Stacy exhaled then said good-bye before she hung up the phone. Her stomach ache felt worse as she wiped away her tears and debated about standing. It felt as if her feet had been knocked right out from under her. She was still in shock from the information. Could Barry really have killed those women?
“Stacy?” Max said her name and joined her by the table. He straddled the chair on her left while Eric straddled the chair on her right then covered her hands that were clasped on her lap.
She looked up toward Max first. He was a deputy, and he would want to know all the details of the situation and perhaps even talk with the investigators. But she hardly knew these two men. How could she let them in on something so intense in her life? If they did have feelings for her, this new info would definitely change their minds. Who would want a woman with trouble following her?
“Explain what’s going on so we can help you,” Max stated.
She was silent a moment then turned toward Eric. He seemed just as protective and in control as Max except he didn’t have the badge to go with the superiority.
“I don’t think I can,” she whispered as the tears rolled down her cheeks. Saying the words out loud but knowing that she really wished that accepting their attention, their help, and even possibly their affection was possible hurt inside. They were good men as Marie and Millie had informed her. They were only trying to help. Max was doing his job, especially if she was to blame for bringing trouble to Pearl.
The tears rolled down her cheeks, and Eric reached up to caress them away.
“You can tell us anything. We’re here to help you,” Eric stated.
“If danger is headed this way after you, then we want to know about it and help,” Max added, sounding as though she was testing his patience. That hurt inside but for some crazy reason made her clit throb. She must be losing her mind.
“I understand that you need to know as a law enforcement officer in this town. Once I call the investigators from the DA’s office in New York, I’ll have more information. I won’t lie to you, and I won’t withhold any information that could place anyone in Pearl or around me in danger.”
She stood up, prepared to leave, when Max stopped her abruptly.
He pulled her into his arms and squeezed her.
“You think I want to know what’s going on just because I’m part of the law in this town? I want to know what’s going on because I’m worried about you and—”
He kissed her so hard and so fast she didn’t know what hit her. He was all fired up, and his hold nearly took her breath away. When he finally released her lips, he cupped the back of her head with his hand and held her in place as he stared down at her.
“You’ve got a lot to learn, but right now what you need to know is that Eric and I are here for you and we will protect you. Now let’s get over to your place and make the call, New York. I don’t like surprises, and I want to know everything this investigator has to say,” Max stated then took her hand into his own. She felt Eric’s hands on her shoulders, and when she looked up, she saw that same fire in his eyes that she saw in Max’s. Maybe they really did care.
* * * *
Despite Stacy’s plea, Max spoke with Investigator Pellot himself. He was glad that he had because Stacy had already attempted to minimize the situation with her ex-boss. He was filled with mixed emotions. A few glances toward Eric and he could tell that his brother was on edge. They barely knew Stacy, yet he was compelled to spend as much time getting to know her as possible, and he already had strong feelings for her. Learning the facts of why she left New York made him feel protective and in need of seeing to her safety. But he had learned a little bit about Stacy’s personality already, and trying to get close enough to protect her and make her see that it wasn’t just as an officer of the law was going to be difficult. She already mentioned his need to know as the local law enforcement representative. She hinted about other things that would keep them from getting involved with her. She stated that she wasn’t sure if she was going to stay on the farm, near Pearl, or in Texas itself for much longer. That nearly had him shaking some sense into her. Well, that was if she was in charge of making that decision. As far as Max was concerned, she already belonged to him and his brother. She touched his heart and made him think about things he hadn’t thought about toward any other woman. One look toward her as she began to hand paint the trim molding around the window told him she was pissed off. Glancing at Eric, who stood nearby cleaning off the sprayer after finishing the back of the house, and he could tell Eric was just as rattled as Max himself felt. Somehow they would convince Stacy that she could trust them and hopefully lean on them.
* * * *
Stacy took a long hot shower. Thanks to Max and Eric, she was able to finish the entire outside of the house in one day. After the phone call from New York, even Marie and Ron pitched in. The entire situation gave her a feeling of belonging that she just wasn’t used to. Marie and Ron had become like an instant family. She had noticed that when Eric or Max touched her shoulder or caressed her in an intimate way that Ron would clear his throat and give each man a stern look. It was as if Ron had taken over a father role toward her. Although she felt it wasn’t necessary, nonetheless it felt nice and she appreciated it. She was certain that with each day that passed that she would love the town of Pearl more and more. Dealing with Max and Eric was a completely different story. They, too, seemed to have taken over the role as her protectors as well as their possession.
Stacy was concerned. It seemed like everything was happening in an instant. She didn’t like instant. She was a planner. She liked everything set out in an organized fashion. It helped to make things run smoothly and left little room for error. The fact that everyone helped to finish painting the outside of the house was a plus. Now she wouldn’t have to face Max and Eric again unless it was on her terms. The remainder of the work that needed to be done was inside the house, and she was going to do that all by herself.
She put on a pajama tank top and a pair of fitted cotton shorts then walked into the kitchen for something to drink. The moment she heard the planks of wood on the front porch creak, she looked up and saw a large shadow. Gasping, she covered her mouth and panicked. Who could be outside? Was it her ex-boss or someone trying to intimidate her? So many thoughts went through her head as she stood absolutely still. A second later she looked around the room and kitchen for a weapon. Then she heard the knock on the door.
“Stacy, it’s Eric.”
Son of a bitch! He scared the living daylights out of me.
She hurried toward the door, feeling her blood practically boil through her veins. Who the hell did he think he was? It was nearly eleven o’clock in the evening.
Pulling the front door open, she began to speak when the sight of him stopped her midsentence. His short hair was wet and probably from taking a shower. The smell of soap and some sort of nice cologne filled her nostrils. The white T-shirt he wore stretched across his large, muscular chest and was tucked in at his thick yet flat waist.
“What the hell are you doing here?” she reprimanded, but it sounded deeper and way sexier to even her own ears. Eric of course raised his eyebrows then eyed her over. She crossed her arms in front of her chest in an attempt to cover herself from his view, but it was too late. Not only did he get a good look at her sleepwear, but her nipples became so hard that she felt them pressing against her arms.
“I came here to check on you,” he replied then gave her one of his reprimanding looks. It wasn’t as intense as Max’s was earlier today as he talked to the investigator, but it was impressive. She found herself taking a retreating step backward, which made Eric take it as a sign to enter. He closed the door behind him and took another step toward her.
“I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You didn’t scare me,” she replied a bit too quickly and with a lot of attitude.
He took her hand and stared down at her with a knowing expression that bothered her and also gave her a weird quivering sensation in her body. He was such a sexy man and she was so attracted to him that she noticed so much about him. From his body to his dark-brown eyes and the way he stood with a thumb in the loop of his jeans in a sexy, relaxed fashion. He was like something out of an outfitters magazine.
She attempted to pull away, but it was a lame attempt. She really liked the way her small hand felt encased by his much larger one. He smelled really good, and she remembered how good his kiss was outside today. Then it hit her. She wasn’t wearing much clothing. As a matter of fact, he was way overdressed compared to her. She shyly turned away from him but kept one hand wrapped around her midsection as if it would help stop the butterflies from fluttering inside.
* * * *
Eric’s heart was pounding inside of his chest. He never felt anything like this before. Just the sight of Stacy got his blood pumping and his dick hard. Then the little vixen actually gave him lip and attitude. That should have pissed him off and turned him off, but instead he was like some lovesick teenager who couldn’t wait to bury his cock balls-deep in her pussy. No other pussy would do, and he knew it. It was fucking with his mind big-time. Everything about her made him feel possessive, lustful, and borderline out of control.
He gripped her hand, and she tried to pull away. Sort of. He sensed her reservations about getting close to him. He knew she was scared, but he also knew she was interested. He and Max knew women well. He kind of regretted the fact of just how well he knew women. But now all he wanted to know was this woman and every damn inch of her body, too.
“You smell really good,” he whispered then winced inside. What a stupid fucking thing to say. Like that wouldn’t scare her. But this was exactly what this woman did to his mind. He lost all suave, slick words of endearments and lines used in the past. She kept him real and, damn it, honest as any man could be standing in front of the goddess of his dreams. She looked back at him, and her arm remained in a protection position against her waist. Was she scared of him or just scared in general. He couldn’t resist temptation any longer. He had to touch her. Reaching up, he stroked her cheek, letting his index finger glide softly under her chin. He tilted it up toward him, and when her big brown eyes locked gazes with him, he knew she would belong to him and Max. .
“I really didn’t mean to scare you, honey. I wanted to check up on you.”
“But you didn’t,” she replied softly.
With her hand still in his other hand, he brought it up to his chest as he wrapped his other arm around her waist, pulling her against him.
She inhaled as her breast collided with his stomach and her eyes locked with his.
“I’m gonna kiss you now, Stacy. It’s the only way to settle down my heart and prove that you’re okay,” he whispered and began to lower his head. He held in a smile of celebration when she tilted her head back in preparation for his kiss then closed her eyes.
The moment he felt her soft, full lips against his own, his whole world turned upside down. Her taste, her scent filled him from his nostrils through to the inside of his body. At least that’s what it felt like for Eric. He felt her curves beneath his hands as he pressed along her lower back then up her spine to the back of her neck. He released the hand he held behind her back and cupped her face with both of his hands, loving her mouth like he never loved another woman’s mouth before. Her hands pressed against his chest, shooting waves of fire and heat through his pectoral muscles and right to his cock. She had to have felt his arousal, and the thought that he could have her and that he would have her one day soon fed his need to claim her. But then he remembered the circumstances that led her to move to Texas and the possible fear she might have of men. He didn’t want her to fear him or his brother Max. Slowly he released her lips but kept her embraced and against his chest. When she laid her cheek against his chest, he closed his eyes and tried to slow his breathing. Yeah, their Stacy packed a punch all right.