Authors: Lorelei James
Tags: #Romance, #Contemporary, #Adult, #Western, #Red Hots!, #Contemporary Romance
So if Keely stumbled on the chance to rod the piss out of a car meant to be driven hard and fast and loose, she did so without an ounce of guilt.
Just her bad luck she’d blazed past a Crook County Sheriff’s car as she’d hit the one hundred thirty miles per hour mark. When the flashing lights finally caught up with her, she hoped Sheriff Shortbull was behind the wheel. He’d let her off with a warning. He always did. She manufactured a charming but contrite smile.
Keely watched in the rearview mirror as the driver’s side door of the cop car opened. Her smile dried up. Her stomach dipped. The unmistakable hulking form of her brother Cam started toward her.
Shit.
She reluctantly rolled down her window. “I can explain—”
“License and registration.”
“Cam. Seriously. Just listen for a sec.”
He stuck his head inside the car. “Not. Another. Word. License and registration.”
Keely popped the glove box and found the vehicle registration right where it was supposed to be. She passed it and her license through the window, waiting while Cam did his cop thing. “Exit the vehicle and come with me.”
Keely trudged to the passenger side of the cop car and climbed in.
“Did Jack really let you drive his car? Or did you steal it when he wasn’t looking?”
“He let me have it. We traded. He needed my truck.”
“Does he know you drive like an idiot?”
She glared at him.
“And what is this bullshit about you and Jack Donohue getting married anyhow?”
Big brother number four didn’t beat around the bush. She allowed him time to recant his jerky statement. When he didn’t, she offered him a haughty, “It’s not bullshit.”
Cam ripped his sunglasses off. His eyes snapped fire. “Yes, it is. I know you. I’ve seen the venom in your eyes when you look at him, so don’t give me that ‘I’m madly in love with him’ crap. Come clean.
Right now.”
40
All Jacked Up
The truth was, Cam did know her to the bone and she had one chance to deflect the conversation.
“Okay, smarty, if you know me so well, then what have I been working on for the last four months?”
He squinted at her with his
I can toss your smart ass in jail
stare.
Keely didn’t back down. “You don’t have a clue, do you?”
“Well, sweetheart, whatever you’ve secretly been working on, you’ve done a damn good job of hiding it, not only from me, but from the family. And I would know all about hiding stuff, wouldn’t I? So who better than me to ferret out the truth?”
“But—”
“Uh-uh. I ain’t done. What I do know, little sis, is Jack Donohue did something to you at Colt and India’s wedding reception that made you cry. I’ve never pushed the issue, even when I wanted to castrate the son of a bitch for hurting you. And if I thought he’d physically injured you? I would’ve killed him on the spot. Period.”
Yikes.
“So tell me the truth.”
She hated to lie to her brother. Cam considered lying the ultimate sin, the biggest betrayal, but she did it anyway. “Yes, I hated Jack. No doubt we’ve had a rocky past. The reason I haven’t told you what went down between us that night is because it’s between me and Jack. You also know me well enough that if he would’ve hurt me, I would’ve sliced off his dick before you’d gotten the chance. That said, I’ve changed.
Jack has changed. When I needed his help, he really came through for me.”
The squinty-eyed stare he’d inherited from Dad appeared again. “Help with what?”
“The building I bought in Moorcroft.”
“What building? Jesus, Keely, why haven’t I heard about this before now?”
“Because it’s none of your business.” For the one-trillionth time, Keely explained. Cam wasn’t any happier with the explanation than anyone else had been.
“We—me, Cord, Colby, Colt, Carter, Kade, Buck, Quinn and Ben—would’ve helped you check it out. We’re family. You should’ve come to us first.”
“Far as I can tell, none of you are licensed with the Wyoming Historical Society to facilitate the approval of my remodeling plans. Jack is. So all you, Cord, Colby, Colt, Carter, Kade, Buck, Quinn, and Ben could’ve done is tell me the building needs a shitload of work, which I already knew. To be fair, I did talk to Chet and Remy, so I rounded up all the expert help I needed on the construction front. What I need from you right now is your support in other ways.”
“Such as?”
“Don’t give me grief about my engagement to Jack. He’s my…choice.”
“Fine. I’ll drop it for now. But I’m still writing you a ticket for reckless driving.”
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Lorelei James
Keely would gladly take the two hundred dollar fine instead of subjecting herself to Cam’s continued scrutiny. She smiled. “Where do I sign?”
Jack pulled up behind his BMW in the parking lot of the Brewster Building and did a visual sweep for damages. Lucky for that mouthy cowgirl, everything looked fine.
He re-secured the tie-downs over the boxes in the back of the truck and grabbed his clipboard before heading up the steps.
Inside, he let the ambience of the past and the promise of the future wash over him. Sometimes when he stood in an old building, he swore the energy of previous inhabitants surrounded him. Guiding him to consider the past. This project was no different, despite the bizarre circumstances.
Jack glanced at the painted tin ceiling. Made notes. He checked the buckled walls. Every inch of the lathe and plaster had to come out. Ripping out the plumbing upstairs would fix the water damage problems.
He wandered, half-listening to the banging and clanking of tools.
A long staircase spiraled up the right side, ending in a balcony. The curved banister was in decent shape, although the wooden balustrades were missing. He’d need a specific solution for those repairs on the remodel plans. Since the staircase was the architectural focal point of the room, it needed to retain as much of the original design as possible.
He’d scrawled another question about replacing the individual glass windows fronting the offices on the balcony, when Keely barreled around the corner, carrying a rotting chunk of plasterboard. She heaved it out the side door with a grunt. “Gross-ass shit.”
“What was it?”
She gasped and whirled around. “Whoa. I didn’t know you were here.”
“I guessed that. What were you tossing out?”
“Somebody put a moldy chunk of Sheetrock in front of the old boiler access and it sealed shut, probably with the help of a gallon of mouse piss.” She shuddered. “Nasty, smelly mess.”
“Are Chet and Remy around?”
“Yeah.” Keely whistled shrilly. “Guys! Jack is here.”
Jack winced. “A warning about your deafening whistle might be in order next time.”
“Where would be the fun in that?”
Two guys bounded down the stairs. Both mid-thirties. The tall, stocky man had curly light brown hair and dark eyes. The shorter, stockier man had curly dark brown hair and light eyes. Jack vaguely remembered meeting them at Carter’s wedding. He thrust out his hand. “Jack Donohue. Full Circle Consulting.”
The taller guy spoke first. “Chet West. West Construction.”
42
All Jacked Up
The shorter guy inserted himself between them. “Remy West, also of West Construction. Cousin Keely here told us you own the Sandstone Building. Is that true?”
Jack nodded. “You guys did a great job on that remodel.”
“Like we had a choice,” Chet said. “Now I know why you were such a hardass on approving the plans. Architects as owners are construction guys’ worst nightmare.”
“And yet you’re back for more.”
Remy smiled. “We ain’t dumb. You may be a pain in the butt, but you paid top dollar and gave us a good recommendation.”
“How come I didn’t know that?” Keely demanded of her cousins.
“Because we keep our mouths shut. No matter what.” Chet’s gaze moved between Keely and Jack.
“So can you. Keely never once mentioned being involved with you on a personal level. She played all coy and secretive about her ‘expert’ help.”
Jack lifted a brow at Keely. “We’ve been discreet, haven’t we, buttercup? Now we’re engaged and there’s no denying I’m a lucky man.” When he attempted to put his arm around her, she flinched. Damn woman could at least pretend his touch didn’t repulse her. Just to be ornery, he jerked her to his side, keeping their bodies touching. “Come on, Keely, no need to act shy. We are with family.” He kissed the top of her head. “It’s sweet how much she really is the blushing-bride type beneath that blustering cowgirl exterior.”
Keely froze, then stiffened with anger.
Jack wondered if he should’ve worn a cup.
Chet addressed Keely. “Aunt Caro is throwing a big bash for you guys, huh?”
“Next weekend. We’d love for you to come, but I’ll warn ya, my brothers will be gunning for you.”
“Why?”
“For keeping the building buying a secret from them.”
“Let the McKays bring it,” Remy said. “We don’t back down for no one. Our word is our bond.”
“Amen, bro.” Chet and Remy bumped fists.
“Speaking of bond…your business paperwork is up to date. If West Construction forged a deal with Keely about specific duties, project costs, potential overruns and a timeframe for each stage, then as far as I’m concerned, we’re good to go on Monday.”
“I sense a but.”
Jack flashed his teeth at Chet. “A couple of minor considerations that don’t have to be addressed today, but I’d like clarification on next week. Deal?”
“Hell yeah it’s a deal.” Remy shook Jack’s hand first, followed by Chet.
“Thank you. One other thing. Would you be interested in replacing the water heater in Keely’s apartment? I never knew how bad it was until I started staying with her.”
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Lorelei James
“Sure. You want us to do it now?”
“If you have time.”
“Follow us to the building supply store. I’m pretty sure Jeb keeps an extra unit around. You’ve got a truck?”
Keely snorted. “Think you can fit it in the trunk of your Beemer?”
“I have Keely’s truck, but the back is filled with electronic equipment.”
“No problem. We’ll pick up the replacement, meetcha at the apartment and help you unload.” Remy lightly punched Keely in the arm. “Got yourself a good one there, K.”
When they were out of earshot, Keely mumbled, “Such suckers for an open wallet.”
“As soon as they’re gone tonight, we
will
be having a serious discussion about a few things.” Jack dangled her keys, with the rubber ducky key chain, in front of her scowling face. “Give me back my car.”
“Not until you’ve unloaded your shit from my truck.”
Back at the apartment, Chet and Remy hauled up the bulky boxes, insisting on helping Jack mount the TV after they installed the new water heater. By the time they left it was after eight.
Jack heard her settle across from him and crack the top on a bottle—on a bottle of beer he’d bought.
“You said we had to talk. So talk.”
“Give me a second to enjoy my beer before you launch into an argument with me, okay?”
“I don’t always argue with you.”
“Yes, you do.”
“No, I don’t.”
“See?”
Keely blew out an impatient breath. “Sorry.”
He tried to get comfortable on the lopsided couch as he sipped his beer and gathered his thoughts.
Better to jump in feet first than to dip a toe in the water, knowing the shark would bite either way. “Why do you flinch whenever I touch you?”
“Well, duh. I’m not used to you touching me, Jack.”
“Bingo. You need to get used to it.” Jack didn’t break eye contact. “Come over here by me.”
Her flip, “No thanks. I’m perfectly comfortable here,” annoyed the shit out of him.
“Get over here. Now. Or I will pick you up and drag you.” Her tiny flare of fear had him backtracking. “Just do it. Please.”
Keely shrugged and plunked beside him. “Now what?”
Jack set his hand in the middle of her right thigh. She jumped and knocked his hand away. “See what I mean?”
44
All Jacked Up
“Dammit. I didn’t think. I just reacted.”
“Which means we need to condition you to change your reaction.”
Skepticism filled her eyes. “I suppose you’ve figured out a way to ‘condition’ me.”
“I have an idea or two.”
“This oughta be fun,” she grumbled.
“Oh, most definitely fun.” He grinned, knew it looked unrepentant and didn’t care. “Don’t trust me, do you?”
“Why should I?”
“Maybe that’s the basis of our problem.”
“No. The basis of our problem is we don’t like each other, Jack. Which makes it hard to have trust.
Why don’t you tell me about this conditioning method?”
“I’d rather show you.” He gently placed his hand on her face and she flinched. “Relax.”
“I am!” she snapped, ducking away.
Jack removed his hand, waited a beat, then caressed her cheek with the back of his knuckles.
She flinched again.
“Dammit, Keely, it’s not like I’m going to hit you. Sit still.”
“At least if you were hitting me I could hit you back.”
His hand froze. “You’d rather I was hitting you than touching you?”
Keely held her body immobile, which didn’t provide him any more encouragement than her cringing.
Great. Between Martine dumping him and the incident with Keely—which affected him far more than he’d ever admitted to himself—his sexual ego had taken a serious hit in recent years. Was he doing this all wrong?
She exhaled. “Okay. Try again.”
He set his hand on her knee. “Maybe we should start here.”
“See? I hardly flinched at all.”
“That’s heartening.” Jack lightly caressed the smooth skin. She didn’t object. This could work if he took baby steps.
Yeah, if you’re lucky maybe the prickly woman will let you hold her hand tomorrow.
The sexual cynic inside him laughed that only a hard-up moron became excited by stroking Keely’s cute kneecap.