Chapter 22

Dustin whisked the eggs he’d broken into a bowl for their breakfast. “ZQ called while you were in the shower. He wants me to spend the day with you. Fran and Junebug are going shopping for cabinets, counter, and appliances while he, JJ, and Clint tear out the old stuff.”

“Was it ZQ’s idea for you to spend the day with me or yours?” Kelcee stopped pouring a cup of coffee and waited for Dustin’s reply.

He couldn’t lie to her. Wouldn’t lie to her. “You’re a smart cookie. It was mine. I’ll go out tomorrow to help. After all you went through yesterday, I can’t just leave you alone today. I like to think you’ll need me hanging around to help keep your mind off things.”

She eyed him over the rim of her cup. “Thanks. I am still shaky today.”

He sliced a couple small pats of butter to melt in the frying pan. “I’m going to call Mark about ordering in your bay window and studding for the job while you get dressed. Do you think you’ll feel up to shopping for components for your work counter downstairs afterward?” His gaze swept to her as he poured the scrambled eggs into the frying pan. “ZQ gave me the directions to the best store to go to. It’s where he sent his mom and Fran.”

Kelcee finished her coffee and poured another cup. “Do you think Junebug’s migraine has improved enough for her to go shopping?”

Dustin flipped the eggs and sprinkled grated cheese on the top before putting bread in the toaster. He jotted some measurements on a notepad and chuckled. “ZQ said it was fuckin’ amazing how placing his charge card in his mother’s hand cured her migraine. Claimed she perked right up. Must be something in the plastic.”

She slapped his arm as she passed by to get plates and silverware. “You guys. Put you all together and you verbally tear us poor defenseless women apart.”

He pivoted to watch her teacup ass as she sashayed back and forth in the kitchen, the hem of her short black, silky robe billowing out. All of his hormonal systems were on high alert. “Defenseless, my ass.”

Something had Dustin distracted. Kelcee studied him as he drove his new ʼstang on the highway, the fingertips of one hand tapping the steering wheel and his jaw clenched.

He was happy to find Mark had a bay window in stock. Mark had recommended some carpenters to create the opening and install it. So, what was up with Dustin?

“Are you going to tell me, or not?”

His head whipped in her direction. “Tell you what?”

“Don’t play Mr. Innocent with me. Something is weighing on your mind. You’re sending out ‘oh, shit, I’ve got to tell her this’ vibes.”

He checked his rearview mirror and pulled onto an abandoned restaurant’s parking lot, weeds growing through the cracks in the concrete. Unbuckling his seatbelt, he shifted toward her in his bucket seat. “ZQ called again while you were getting dressed. He’d just heard from his handler at the CIA. There was a large bounty on Tony’s head. Since I’m the one who shot your brother, the money comes to me.”

To process what he’d told her, she glanced out the side window and allowed the words and their ramifications to sink in.

“I told ZQ I didn’t want the damn money. To use it for Junebug’s new kitchen.” He reached for her hand. “All I could see was a man holding my woman hostage with a gun to her sweet flesh. A potential bounty never entered my mind.” He played with her fingers. “I don’t want to financially benefit from shooting your brother, because I don’t want to hurt you.”

He was protecting her again. “I’m glad you gave it to ZQ for the kitchen remodel. That was very generous of you.”

“Yeah, well, ZQ thanked me and then asked what I wanted to do with the rest.” His blue-eyed gaze searched her face. “It was a large reward.” He shifted in his seat. “I want to buy you a car.”

“No!”

“When I’m gone, that’ll be one less thing for me to worry about. You riding that damn bicycle to the bank or jogging there with a backpack full of money. That man put you through hell. Let his death pay for your car.”

“I don’t want anything from him.”

“You’re getting a new car and that’s that.” He fastened his seatbelt and knocked the car into gear. “The matter is not open for discussion.”

Why say a word? The Testosterone Alpha Force just spoke. Well, I can be forceful, too, dammit!

Fran charged into the bookstore five minutes before opening time. “Land sakes, I thought I’d be late this morning. Clint woke up frisky.” She glanced out the window. “Whose adorable baby blue Beetle convertible is that out there?”

“Never mind.”

Dustin made the last step into the store from upstairs. He held a kitten to each naked pec, his tight-fitting jeans cupping his manhood like a pair of lover’s hands. The top two buttons were open and his feet were bare—the real one and the prosthesis. “Good morning, Fran. How do you like Kelcee’s new car?”

Fran’s aqua purse dropped to the floor, while her hand kept patting Kelcee’s good arm. “You…you…sleep with all that?”

“Whatever.” She turned her back on Mr. Testosterone Alpha.

The mountain of heat stepped behind her and wrapped his kitten-full hands around her waist. “She’s still mad at me, Fran. I wasn’t supposed to buy the woman I love a car. Tell me, does Clint buy you cars?”

Fran and her chins nodded. “Why, yes. Whenever I need one.”

“See?”

Kelcee pointed to Fran as she spun in his arms. “That’s totally different. He’s her husband. That’s like comparing apples to oranges.”

Dustin turned that slow sexy-as-hell smile on Fran and she gulped so loud it nearly echoed in the store. “Does Clint have apples or oranges, Mama Fran?”

Well, would you listen to the silver-tongued devil? Her female parts perked up, all needy and wet. Damn traitors.

Fran came at him with open arms. “Oh, bless your heart. You called me Mama Fran.”

Kelcee tweaked his nipple. “So, you want to play dirty?”

“I want you to be happy. Didn’t I show you last night?”

Well, there was that. “Take the kittens back upstairs and get dressed. The sign says ‘Shirt and Shoes Required for Service.’ Besides, the children will be here soon for story reading and arts and crafts.”

He kissed her. “Yes, love. I have an appointment with Dr. Raymond shortly, anyway.” He carried Marmalade and Sox back upstairs.

“Kelcee, you are so mean to him. Do you want another woman to shove you out of the picture with some sweetness and compliments? You can’t keep putting him down and expect him to hang around for your verbal abuse. A man’s ego won’t take that. Do you care for him?” Fran put her purse away.

“Yes, I care for him. It scares me how much I care for him. He’ll soon be leaving, going back to a warrior’s life. I’ll fall apart without him.” Kelcee fiddled with some bills she had to enter into her accounting program. “I’m not always mean to him. I love him very much. I just don’t know how to handle the enormity of it.” She glanced at Fran. “I see you and Clint together. I want that type of relationship someday.”

Fran pointed to the stairway to the apartment. “And you think that man won’t give you what my Silver Stud and I have? Open your eyes! He worships you. He was willing to walk away from you to keep you safe from his posttraumatic rages. He put you before himself. Few men would do that.”

Kelcee poured another cup of coffee. Fran was right; she was acting like a bitch, afraid of her feelings. She loved this man, would probably always love him. When he went back to active duty, so be it. It wouldn’t change how she felt about her protector, her survivor.

She was just herding the last of her children and their mothers out when her cellphone rang. It was Dustin and she’d turned over a new leaf. “Hi handsome,” her voice purred.

“Ah…do I have the right number?”

Didn’t she feel like crap? “If you’re trying to reach the woman who’s been nasty to you of late, unless you’ve had her flat on her back, you’ve got the right number.”

He chuckled. “I’m at the ranch, helping with the kitchen remodel. Everyone’s going to Sandoval’s Tex-Mex for supper, since the kitchen’s far from done. We’ve been asked to join in. Are you up for that or are you too tired to go out?”

“No. Sounds like fun. What time?” Her man had changed a lot in the last couple months. Before, he was afraid to eat in a restaurant. Now, he sounded eager to go out with a group of friends. Dustin was overcoming some of his PTSD.

“I’ll pick you up at six-thirty.”

“Give it to her straight,” ZQ’s voice broke in. “Oh-six-thirty, darlin’, military time. Dust, you’ve got to teach her right.”

“I’ll be ready, big guy. I’ll even wear my thigh-highs and fuck-me heels.”

“You’re killing me, here.” Dustin’s voice had dropped to that sexy timbre that made her panties moist. “Later, Kitten.” He ended the call.

“There, didn’t that conversation go better when you put a little sugary effort into it?” Fran straightened the children’s chairs. “Around two or three, why don’t you go upstairs, take some painkillers, and have a refreshing nap. This is your first day back, working full-time. If you’re going out tonight, you’ll need some rest first. Clint texted me a few minutes ago. We’ll be joining you guys. Sounds like a party.”

Shortly after two, her arm started throbbing. Kelcee took Fran’s advice and trudged up the steps. Two angelic kittens greeted her; so did dirt on the floor from a potted plant. She was hurting too much to raise a fuss. She needed a book on cat care. Once she’d taken two aspirins, she toed off her shoes, set her alarm, and crawled into bed. Marma and Sox climbed up the mattress to join her. Kelcee petted them until her eyes closed.

Her alarm went off and the kittens flew out of the room to escape the racket. The darlings do have their moments. She chuckled as she chose what to wear tonight—a black slim skirt and a yellow short-sleeved sweater with a crisscross neckline. She chose some sexy panties and hurried to the shower.

Once dressed, she went looking for the kittens and found them playing with Dustin’s hair as he was spread out on the living room floor, catching a few Z’s himself. He was nearly covered in drywall dust caked on by sweat. She stepped closer. Were they playing or grooming him?

She turned to go back to the bedroom to do her makeup and he woke at the sound of her stilettos hitting the wooden floor.

“Hey, beautiful. Bring that teacup ass here.”

“No, not as dirty as you are.”

He stood and she squealed, running into the bedroom and locking the door. A minute later, the shower started and she began the process of making up her eyes. Tonight should be fun, eating with friends. She hoped Dustin could handle it.