* * * *
“I thought you were going to tell Stacy about the break-in?” Wyatt asked his cousin Max as they walked into the Sheriff’s department.
“To be honest with you, I didn’t want to ruin the atmosphere. Everyone was thrilled with her cooking, and Stacy looked content and relaxed.”
“That was until the robbery was mentioned and the fact that we didn’t inform her about the things stolen from Marie’s shed and about the window broken at her own house.”
“I didn’t want her to panic and think it was her boss from New York.”
“Well, we’re pretty sure it’s not her boss, considering that these robberies started a few days before Stacy arrived. However, nothing was done outside of town until her arrival. You can’t keep information from her just because you’re scared of her reaction.”
“Who said I was scared?” Max asked.
“Come on, Max, I’ve known you forever. I’ve never seen you or Eric so wrapped up in anything or anyone like you are with Stacy. If she’s that important to the two of you, then you need to be honest with her. I know how upsetting those voice messages were that we found on her cell phone. I understand how protective you want to be, but it’s going to backfire on your relationship with Stacy. She’s tough. I can tell, and she needs honesty from you.”
“So I’m not supposed to protect her? I’m supposed to tell her that she ran from one asshole from New York only to come to a town she doesn’t know and now not feel safe here? She doesn’t need that, Wyatt. She needs to feel protected and loved. That’s what Eric and I are going to do. This is a new life for her, and she’s exactly what Eric and I have been waiting for.”
Wyatt smirked as he leaned his hand on his holster.
“Sounds like you and Eric got it bad.”
Max smiled. “Not bad, cuz, real good.” Their conversation ended as both their cell phones rang.
* * * *
Stacy allowed Eric to lead her upstairs to the bedroom. She wasn’t sure if it was his, Max’s, or a guest room, but it was really big with a king-size bed. He closed the door with his boot as he held her hand, leading her closer to the bed.
“I should really go home tonight. I haven’t been there in days,” she stated, and he squeezed her hand. He immediately placed his other hand on her hip then slid it along to her back, where he held both her wrists within one of his hands. The move caused her to pull her shoulders back and thrust her breasts closer to his stomach. Even without his cowboy boots on, the man was a tower. Their bodies collided as he stepped closer to her. “You should stay a little longer. It’s late, and Max was looking to see you tonight after work,” he whispered as he kissed her cheek, her chin, and then her lips. She tried to step back.
“Eric, what happened at the cottage? Who did it, and why can’t I go back there?” she asked, and she felt her temper rise but also her emotions get the better of her. She was feeling emotional and kind of scared. Eric softened his expression, obviously reading her body language. He pulled her tighter to him.
“Max doesn’t believe that it was your ex-boss. It could have been random, but he and Wyatt can’t be certain. It makes more sense that you stay here where we can protect you.”
“But what about Aunt Marie and Ron? Who’s going to protect them?”
He smiled at her then squeezed her as if her statement were out of the ordinary.
“That’s real sweet of ya to worry ’bout them. But they have guns and know how to use them, plus they have Jacob, Stevie, and Earl on the farm. You need to be here with us.”
She released an annoyed sigh as she locked gazes with him. He was so darn sexy with his tight navy-blue T-shirt and snug-fitting dark-blue jeans. His rodeo belt buckle pressed against her belly.
“Well, if I can’t go home tonight, then just know that I expect to go home tomorrow. I’ve got more painting to do and then a few more days before the Fourth of July to prepare my pies and the chili. After that the camp starts, and I am supposed to help Marie, remember?” she asked, sounding frustrated.
“Yeah, I remember. But I also know that she only needs you for the one day.”
“I know that, Eric, but I was kind of looking forward to helping out a bit. I never went to camp, and in the city, it’s nothing like outdoors. I don’t even know how to ride a horse,” she exclaimed, sounding as if she were pouting.
“But you know how ta ride a cowboy,” he stated as he gave her ass a squeeze, and she shook her head. She instantly felt her body warm and her cheeks heat up.
“I would still like to learn how to ride a horse,” she countered as he squeezed her tighter and smiled. Her heart swelled up with love for the man. He was irresistible.
“Have you been on any other horses than Lightning?” he asked.
“No. Even the last few weeks staying here and at the cottage, I only saw some horses from a distance, aside from Lucy and riding Lightning with you. Before Lightning, the closest I’ve been to one was that day I arrived and I saw you,” she told him then felt her cheeks warm as he raised his eyebrows and smiled.
He released her hands and held her tight around the waist so she could hold on to him as well. She laid her hands on his forearms, and he smiled at her.
“Ya remember the day you first saw me?” he teased, and she shyly let her face fall against his chest. He bent his elbows and tried to get her to look up at him.
“Come on now, woman, don’t leave me hanging.”
“You know I saw you, Eric, and you know you looked so damn good and sexy. I was blown away. Especially I was taken aback by the fact that you appeared out of nowhere. It was like a dream kind of. I mean, there you were on a beautiful, huge black stallion. The sun caused a silhouette around you, and then there were just fields of high grasses and other stuff behind you. It was kind of creepy,” she added as she saw how his eyes lit up and heard how corny she sounded. She shyly looked down.
“Creepy? You thought I was creepy?” he asked, sounding insulted as he gave her body a shake.
“Oh no, of course not,” she replied quickly then hugged him tighter as she stood up on tiptoes to kiss his chin. He lowered his mouth and held her gaze.
“I remember when I first lay my eyes on you. You were sitting in Ron’s truck looking so damn beautiful like a movie star. I had no idea who you were or if you’d even noticed me.”
“Notice you? Honey, I noticed you all right. I noticed everything about you, and Max the first time I met him.” Then she remembered the conversation at Francine’s and then Max and Eric saving her from trouble with Gutry.
“Hey, does Max think that the guy Gutry has something to do with the robberies?” she asked.
Eric released an annoyed sigh. It was obvious that he didn’t even like bringing up Gutry’s name.
“I know they’ve looked into a few individuals. Gutry hasn’t been seen around town in over a week. We thought that maybe he headed out of town because no one will hire him. Not after he worked for us and we got rid of him.”
“Oh no, he actually worked here on the ranch?”
“Yep. He was slacking and caused nothing but trouble. As a matter of fact, that day I met you, I was out mending fences that he was supposed to have done. I was real pissed until I lay eyes on you.” He leaned forward and kissed her lips. His kiss grew deeper, and she knew that the conversation was over. Eric had other plans as he continued to kiss her while he discarded her clothes. In a flash, they were breathing heavy, and then he was taking her hand and bringing her toward the bed.
* * * *
Wyatt and Max met Deputy Kenny Jones at the Sheriff’s department. They followed the deputy into the Sheriff’s office where they saw the display of various items spread on a meeting table.
“What’s this?” Sheriff Wyatt asked.
“Well, sir, it was left outside the back entrance to the department. It was addressed to the staff, so Sally opened it. Just take a look,” the deputy stated as he motioned with his hands to the contents in the box.
Wyatt and Max both looked inside.
“The envelope on top was addressed to you, Max. Sally opened it then quickly put the pictures back. As far as the other contents, they weren’t touched by anyone. Not sure if we can get any prints off of them.
Max looked at the envelope and then the contents inside the box. At first he just glanced at the thong panties and the other items until he noticed the initials on the compact mirror. It said
S.P.
His heart began to pound in his chest.
Wyatt picked up the envelope. “Oh fuck!” he exclaimed then ran a hand over his jaw.
“What? What’s in there?” Max asked, raising his voice. He knew this had to do with Stacy, and he feared for her life immediately.
“Did Sally see these?” he asked Kenny, and Kenny nodded. Then Wyatt swore.
He passed the envelope to Max then thanked Kenny before asking him to leave the room.
Max picked up the envelope and took out the contents. He was shocked at what he saw. There were numerous pictures of Stacy. Some from New York, some at parties, and some here in Texas on Marie’s farm. There were also pictures of her in just a towel and what appeared to be her living room.
“This fucker knows where she is. He’s been spying on her. He got into her house, Wyatt, and has pictures like this?” Max exclaimed then went through the other pictures until he saw the handwritten note.
She’s all mine. Keep your hands off her, Deputy Cantrell, or you and your brother die!
I can get to her at any time. I can touch her, fuck her, and even kill her if I choose. Stay away!
Max banged his fist on the desk.
“I want this fucking asshole. I want to fucking ring his scrawny neck and watch him take his last dying breath,” Max exclaimed, and Wyatt crossed his arms in front of his chest and just exhaled.
“I understand your upset and anger here, Max. This can’t be easy to handle. We won’t be able to get any fingerprints off of this box or the letter, but we’ll try anyway. He’s too smart to screw up, but at least now he threatened you and Eric. That’s a federal offense in itself.”
“If we can prove it was him. Shit, Wyatt, when Stacy finds out about this, she’s going to panic. How the hell are we going to keep her away from the cottage and under protection at all times? I don’t like the fact that this guy has an advantage of watching us and knowing what we’re up to. Where is he hiding? How come no one has seen him?”
“We haven’t posted his picture or anything. Maybe that might be a good idea. We can have Sally make copies of his photo and give it to all the store owners and residents. We don’t want to post it and let him know what we’re up to, but it may help us catch him.”
“We should also call the investigators from New York. He needs to be aware of this, too.”
They were silent a moment as he looked over the other contents in the box. He didn’t touch the panties, but the thought that this creep did made Max sick to his stomach. This guy wanted Stacy badly. He was a sick individual.
“Why don’t you head back home. I think being with Stacy and knowing that she’s safe will ease some of that anger building inside of you,” Wyatt suggested.
“I don’t know if I can go home feeling like this. I feel like hitting something or tearing something up,” he exclaimed then ran a hand through his hair.
“Go home and be with her. Having Stacy lying in bed protected between you and Eric, holding her in your arms will ease that anger,” Wyatt stated then walked over to his desk and picked up the phone.
“Thanks, Wyatt. I’ll see ya in the morning.”
“You betcha.”
* * * *
Eric looked at Stacy. His woman stood before him looking like a goddess. Her auburn-colored locks glistened with red highlights as the soft glow of the light surrounded her. She wore just a set of matching black panties and bra. The silky material was soft against his hands as he cupped a breast, squeezed, then trailed his finger along her curves. Stacy’s skin was perfect. Slightly tan and smooth with no blemishes, just a dusting of tiny freckles here and there. He squatted down then leaned forward to take a small taste of one particular set of tiny freckles along her abdomen.
“I love these. I want to lick and touch every single one on your body,” he whispered, and he saw the goose bumps cover her flesh. His warm breath must have caused them. He whispered again after licking and nibbling until he got to her tattoo.
“When did you get this?” he asked then traced the small wings best he could with his pinky finger. She wiggled under his ministrations then placed her hands on his shoulders. When she began to massage his head and run her delicate fingers through his hair, his dick stirred beneath her
They could hear footsteps coming from outside the bedroom door. They held one another’s gaze and smiled.
“Max,” they both whispered.
The door slowly opened, and there stood his brother in full uniform, and he looked a bit wild. Eric watched as his gaze darted around the room and straight to him and Stacy. He noticed the expression of relief he saw at seeing them both, and Eric instantly sensed his brother’s urgency and concern.
“Is everything okay?” Eric asked as he remained kneeling in front of Stacy with his hands on her hips. She held his shoulders, and he felt her tense her fingers. She was concerned now, too.
Max looked away as he answered and began to pull off his gear.
“Everything is fine. I just couldn’t wait to see you. I missed you,” he replied as he quickly took off his clothes.
He walked over to them, and he cupped Stacy’s face between his hands and kissed her deeply. Eric knew something was up. His gut instinct told him so.
As Max released Stacy’s lips, she smiled at him.
“I missed you, too,” she whispered as Max held his palm against her neck and shoulder.
“Am I interrupting something?” Max asked then smiled slightly. Stacy shyly looked down away from both of them, and Eric took the opportunity to lock gazes with his brother. Max shook his head, indicating that he couldn’t talk about it now.
Max took that moment to move in behind Stacy and wrap an arm around her waist while he laid his face over her shoulder. He kissed her neck, and Stacy leaned back against him. Eric saw the way Max’s large hand caressed along the material of her panties, and looking up, he saw him clench his eyes tightly as if trying to stop thinking about something. What the hell was going on?
“So what was the question?” Max asked as he expanded his hand across her belly.
“I was asking Stacy about this very feminine and sexy tattoo and wondered when she got it,” Eric stated then leaned forward to kiss the butterfly.
“When I was in college,” she whispered as her head rolled back and Max attacked her with kisses.
“Ah, college days. Any other naughty things that you did and would like to share with us?” Eric teased.
“I did a lot of stupid things in college, but the tattoo I don’t regret,” she whispered.
“Hmmm, sounds like our baby has secrets,” Eric whispered as he slowly began to pull her panties down her thighs. As Eric helped her step out of them, Max covered her pussy with his hand. She moaned as she closed her eyes. Eric tossed her panties onto the nightstand then began to remove her bra. They were all naked now, and their desire to have their woman filtered through the air.