Paige steps back for me to enter and laughs. “I was wondering if you’d changed your mind since you sat in the truck for so long.”
I attempt to think fast, but nothing comes to mind, and I blurt out the truth, “I needed time to get control of myself, so I didn’t come in here and move too fast.”
Shock passes over her face for a second before she smiles shyly and points her head toward the kitchen. “Are you going to think I’m a lush if I invite you into the kitchen for a glass of wine while I finish up dinner? It sounds like we could both cool down a little.”
Throwing back my head, I laugh. “Lead the way. I could use it.” As I follow behind her, I stare at her gorgeous body, and my temperature rises. Hopefully, a glass of wine will work wonders to cool me off a little.
Paige grabs a bottle of wine out of the refrigerator and smiles as she hands it to me. “I’ll grab glasses this time.” Then she walks over to one of the tall white cabinets and grabs two wine glasses. I start opening the bottle while looking around the kitchen.
She has something cooking on the stove, and there’s a bowl of salad sitting on the counter. I try to concentrate on anything other than the fact that I can see the outline of her lace bra through the thin blouse she’s wearing, or that when she bends over I can see the outline of her thong underwear, and my cock is about to dig its way out of my jeans. Sweat is breaking out on my back, and the temperature in the kitchen is getting to be unbearable. Needing to get a handle on the situation, I try to turn my attention elsewhere. “What brought you to Juniper?”
She opens her mouth to respond when the glass on her back-door window explodes. After grabbing her around the waist, I pull Paige down and cover her with my body.
After what seems like an eternity, there are no more shots. I check my girl. “You okay, baby?”
“God, what’s happening?” Paige shakily responds, and I breathe a sigh of relief before grabbing my phone off my belt and dialing 911. Martha answers, and I bark orders at the dispatcher then hang up.
Paige is trembling under me, and I ignore my body’s response to her and run my hand through her soft hair while whispering, “It’s going to be fine. The police are on the way.”
Paige’s body is tense beneath mine, and I feel her accelerated breathing. She turns her face toward me, and her breath feathers across my cheek. “Who would do this?”
The same question is running through my mind, but I need to keep her calm so lie. “Probably some idiot messing around with a gun or something.”
When Paige peeks over her shoulder, the doubt in her eyes confirms she doesn’t believe me. Before she can question me further, there’s a loud knocking on the front door, and a local deputy calls through the door.
After lifting myself off of Paige, I instruct her, “Stay down until I make sure it’s safe.” Then I head for the front door and let Burton into the house.
“Dispatch said you have shots fired into the residence.” Burton pushes in and looks around me. The asshole is trying to get a look at Paige, and the urge to ram my fist into his face roars through me. “Miss, are you okay?” The fucker steps past me and helps Paige to her feet. I know the little shit would take great pleasure in throwing my ass in jail if I crushed his hand for daring to touch my girl. My rage spikes as his eyes travel over her stunning body. I notice her blouse has a huge rip down the front, and her lacy bra is showing. I’m about to grab the asshole to pull his attention away from her when he reaches out his hand. “It’s a shame to meet under these circumstances.”
After stepping between the asshole and my girl, I snarl, “Are you going to go investigate the shots fired?”
It appears Burton is going to argue, but I turn my back to him and take Paige’s soft hand. “Why don’t you go change your shirt, baby? The house may be crawling with people soon.” Paige’s eyes widen as she looks down at her torn shirt, but I ignore her surprise and lead her toward the hallway. Before she walks away, I lean to whisper in her ear, “I accidentally tore your blouse when I pulled you to the floor. I’m ready to tell the fucker we were having rough sex just to make his ass jealous.” My joke brings a little color back to her face, and she snorts loudly. Then I kiss the tip of her nose and warn her, “I’m ready to kill that fucker out there if he ogles you one more second.” Paige’s face turns bright red as she gasps and squeezes her blouse close.
She bites her bottom lip. “My reputation is already damaged by giving Mr. Jacobs a heart attack. You would really finish it off.” The desire to kiss that lip causes me to groan.
My iron-hard cock is thumping in my pants as my blood heats in my veins. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure your reputation is squeaky clean.” After winking at Paige, I spin her around and pat her gorgeous ass. My cock urges me to forget about the asshole in the kitchen and the others on their way and follow her into the bedroom. Fighting the temptation, I close my eyes and count to ten, then head back into the kitchen.
Burton’s arrogant smirk causes all the lust to die a quick death, and it’s instantly replaced with intense hatred. This fucker has been a thorn in my side for way too long. He rubs his lips, then suggests, “I can take care of things here. You aren’t needed anymore.”
Like I’d leave my girl. This asshole can think again. “No, Burton. I’m here to spend the evening with Paige.” He’s about to argue when there’s another knock at the front door. Paige walks out of the bedroom to answer the door before I can free myself.
The town’s sheriff, Terry Donaldson, and another deputy walk in, and I’m relieved to see Paige wearing a t-shirt and pair of jeans. Paige stands next to me as Terry informs us there is damage to the exterior siding from a rifle shot and another shot that shattered her window. Intense anger flows through my body as I silently swear I’m going to kick someone’s ass.
When Terry turns to Paige and asks, “Ms. Reilly, do you have somewhere else to stay for a couple of days?”
I answer for her. “She’ll stay with Roger and me. We have four extra bedrooms, and she can use the pool to sun herself in privacy.”
My girl turns to me and looks like she’s about to argue as the little dickhead comes over and tries to put his two cents in. “I’m not sure a single woman should be staying with an unmarried man.”
I glare at Burton and snap, “No one asked your opinion. It’s not the 1920s, so fuck off.” Paige gasps quietly next to me before Burton’s face turns red. The stupid shit is smart enough to keep his mouth shut as he spins and slams out the front door.
Terry shakes his head and looks over at me. “I expect one of you to kill the other one of these days.”
I shrug and wrap my arm around Paige. Her beautiful face is a little pale, and she’s still slightly unsteady. Looking down, I whisper, “Don’t worry, I’ll get you back to my place soon so you can relax.” I lead her over to the sofa, and after she drops down, I call Rory. It only takes a minute to get my younger brother to agree to come over and help me board up the window on her door.
Chapter 3
Paige
I don’t want to wake up from the hottest dream I’ve ever had. Trace nibbles his way across my chest, but suddenly I can’t breathe. I open my eyes to find a massive orange cat sitting on my chest. Since he isn’t mine, I almost freak out until I realize I’m in Trace’s guest bedroom. As the events of the last two days slowly rumble through my groggy mind, I would groan if my chest could expand, but the huge cat is making that all but impossible. “Kit…” I clear my throat and draw in the biggest breath I can and try again. “Kitty, you need to move.” It comes out as a scratchy garble, but the cat rolls his eyes and steps aside to lay next to me on the bed.