Truth and Seduction

The Callens 2

Truth and Seduction Sexy television investigative reporter Jessie McCallister has returned to Intrigue, Wyoming, after eleven years and wants it all—her career and her two high school dream men, hunky newspaper mogul Cody Callen and hot arson investigator Shane McKee. After she watches these brave men save a young boy from a burning building, she knows these heroes are still the ones for her. As the three of them investigate the fire and share information, they connect on an emotional and sexual level. However, after Jessie agrees not to expose the possible identity of the arsonist because it may harm the station's bottom line, Cody and Shane's rock-solid belief in telling the truth forces them to set her free. What does she have to do to win back their respect and love? Note: There is no sexual relationship or touching for titillation between or among the men. Genre: Contemporary, Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Western/Cowboys Length: 41,790 words

TRUTH AND SEDUCTION The Callens 2

Melody Snow Monroe

MENAGE EVERLASTING

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Ménage Everlasting

TRUTH AND SEDUCTION Copyright © 2012 by Melody Snow Monroe E-book ISBN: 1-61926-631-8 First E-book Publication: April 2012 Cover design by Les Byerley All art and logo copyright © 2012 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers Dear Readers, If you have purchased this copy of Truth and Seduction by Melody Snow Monroe from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

Regarding E-book Piracy This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book. The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment. This is Melody Snow Monroe’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Monroe’s right to earn a living from her work. Amanda Hilton, Publisher www.SirenPublishing.com www.BookStrand.com

DEDICATION To my amazing husband, who constantly stretches my story writing. You are the best! And to Linda Bond, my wonderful friend and ABC News anchor, for all your help.

TRUTH AND SEDUCTION The Callens 2 MELODY SNOW MONROE Copyright © 2012

Chapter One “That’s a wrap.” Scott, Jessie McCallister’s lanky photographer, clicked the latch and pulled the TV news camera off its tripod. Jessie handed the mike to her partner and headed back to the KRPT news van. Scott followed her, stowed his gear, and hopped into the driver’s side seat. “Not the same level of crime as in Denver, huh?” She laughed. “No, but this domestic violence call could have turned ugly.” At least the police had shown up, making for better video. “I don’t mind. It’s a lot safer covering the news in Wyoming than in the big city.” This was the first real call she’d had since she’d arrived three days ago. The first few days, she’d spent going through police reports and had to make a news story out of a parakeet kidnapping. That stretched even her ability to make something that lame sound exciting, but she knew what she was getting into when she moved back to a town a fraction the size of Denver. She just hoped the viewing public would like her interview with Martha DeNardo, the elderly woman whose parakeet had been ransomed. Scott said the people of Intrigue revered the last crime reporter, so she needed to work extra hard to gain an audience. She’d spent her whole life proving to the world she could

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do whatever she set her mind to and planned to do the best job she could. If the political situation at the Denver station hadn’t been so bad, she never would have left the exciting town. But it was either get out or be fired. Needing air, Jessie rolled down the window. The refreshing breeze skimmed across her face and cooled her damp skin. A hint of sweetness registered. Closing her eyes, she sniffed. “Something’s burning.” Scott inhaled and shrugged. “Someone might be doing some controlled burning, but they usually do that in the winter.” Her senses alert, she scoured the area. Black smoke billowed off in the distance. Since her job included covering crime and fires, she leaned forward to get a better look. “Do you mind heading over there?” Her pulse raced as she pointed in the direction of the darkened sky. Scott increased his speed a bit, but as he passed a line of trees, they both got a better visual. “Holy shit. That looks bad.” Her head slammed against the seat as he took off. As they got closer, it was clear this was not an intentional burn, but something far worse. Then Jessie saw the real cause, and her heart dropped to her stomach. “That house is on fire!” Her second thought centered on her job. “We need to capture the video.” Dread blasted her, but the chance to be first on the scene mitigated the horror. Grabbing her phone, she dialed 911 and gave them the location of the blaze. She disconnected. “Fire department is on the way.” “That’s Greg and Rhonda Tanner’s farm.” Scott’s voice came out strangled, as if he knew these people quite well. “Sweet Jesus, I hope no one’s home.” She’d covered fires in Denver, and the devastation always sickened her. Next, she called her news station, KRPT, and asked them to send over a live truck. “We won’t be able to get one there for another fifteen or twenty

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minutes,” the dispatcher informed her. “You have to be kidding me.” She inhaled, telling herself this wasn’t Denver. “Fine. We’ll shoot the video and send it back to you.” Good thing she had her computer with her. Scott raced down the two-lane road. He had to be going close to ninety. She gripped the door, hoping he didn’t flip the van when he turned into the drive. When they got there, another truck was wedged between two trees. When she’d lived in Intrigue eleven years ago, no one had owned this land. During her absence, the small town had more than doubled in size. Scott slammed on the brakes, causing her to shoot forward. The moment he came to a stop, she pushed open her door and ran to the scene. With her iPhone in hand, she was ready to take her own video. That way she could e-mail it right back to the station and get the story online immediately. When the heat blasted her, she stopped and waited for Scott. The house looked ready to collapse. Dear God. Someone could still be inside. All she could hear was the roar of the flames. It was difficult enough to breathe with all the heat filling the air, let alone get close enough to help. Her eyes watered, but she had to record this terrible destruction. Scott ran toward her with the camera on his shoulder. He spun toward the nearby white fence to get the balance right. Only then did she see two men with their backs to her, both dressed in jeans, standing right next to the house. They didn’t have any hoses in hand, so they weren’t trying to put out the blaze. What the hell were they doing here? Something seemed out of place, and her sixth sense shot into overdrive. It looked too dangerous to be so near to the flames. Maybe they had something to do with setting the fire. Her fists clenched at the horrible thought. From the back, she judged them both to be a bit over six feet, and packed with enough muscles to tip the scales at two hundred. Her gaze followed the taller man’s outstretched arms. Oh, my God.

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A young boy was perched on a second story windowsill clasping the frame with both hands. She wiped her sweaty palms on her blue linen slacks. The poor little boy must be so scared. “I’m here.” Scott rushed up behind her and handed her the mike. She turned her back to the flames and took the microphone. Her hand shook so much she had to use two hands to steady it. “This is Jessie McCallister cutting into your regular programming to bring you breaking news off Highway 230. As you can see behind me, a home is engulfed in flames, and a young boy’s life is being threatened. Two men are trying to coax the boy down.” Her damned voice quivered, but dammit, there was a young boy’s life on the line. Her expert cameraman moved to the side and zoomed in on the men and the boy. She moved as close as she dared, hoping to hear what was going on. “My own heart is beating at the intensity of the situation. Let’s listen in.” That sounded so callous, but if she expressed her true feelings, she’d be too choked up to talk. The taller of the two men had his hands in the air, ready to catch the little boy. “Come on, Andy, jump.” “I’m afraid.” The poor kid was trembling. She didn’t think the microphone could pick up his thin voice over the roar and crackle of the fire. “I’ll catch you. I promise.” The man yelled louder this time, tearing open her own heart. She mentally urged the kid to let go. Given the amount of muscles on this man, she bet he could catch someone a lot bigger than a fiveyear-old boy. The kid twisted back into the room. Had someone come in behind him? Maybe his parents had come to save him. The yellow hue behind him meant the flames were getting close. She bunched the bottom of her shirt, then immediately smoothed out the wrinkles. Her stomach fluttered. The front door was already encased in flames. Shit. There was no way even the fire department

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could get in there now. The sirens sounded near. Thank God, help had arrived. “Remember when you would jump into the pool?” the man asked, pleading with the child. While his voice cracked, he remained calm. “Uh-huh.” Please trust this man. “I caught you then. Remember? Come on. I’ll catch you now.” “Jump, Andy, jump.” She couldn’t help but urge him on. Her arm lowered. She was so focused on the man saving the little boy’s life, she forgot she was live. The second man threaded his hands with the first, making a sort of net with their arms. “We’re both here, Andy. Let go. You’ll be safe.” The second man appeared as calm as the first. These remarkable men were true heroes. The boy closed his eyes and pushed off. They caught him easily, thank God. The first rescuer took hold of the kid, turned, and sprinted away from the building, his head buried in the top of the boy’s hair. His friend followed closely behind. The fire truck pulled to a stop, and men descended. While she was fascinated by the rescue, the human-interest story caught her attention. She motioned Scott to keep filming. She pulled out her iPhone to interview the two town heroes and raced toward them. She introduced herself and held up the phone to record them. The little boy whimpered, and she rubbed his back. “You’re safe now, Andy.” She tried to keep her tone as even as possible. Both men looked up, their faces streaked with soot. She’d grown up in Intrigue, but she never expected her two heartthrobs from high school to be the heroes. These two entitled rich kids focused on football and girls. She never would have picked them to save a little boy from a burning building. “Shane and Cody?” Boy, had they changed. Shane had short black wavy hair, strong cheekbones, and a killer body. Last time she saw

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him, he was much thinner and had a baby face. Cody’s light brown hair looked the same, as did his intense blue eyes, but not only was he buff, the five-o’clock shadow spoke to the man he’d become. Shane stared at her. “Jessie? That you?” “Sure is.” The reporter instinct kicked in, and she stepped beside them. “I’m here with Shane McKee and Cody Callen. These two men just saved Andy Tanner from the blazing inferno. Can you tell us what happened?” Cody leaned toward the phone. “We were at my parents’ house when Shane got a call from his department. We were close by and rushed over here.” That explained how they beat her there. Wait a minute. He was a fireman? “What do you do for the department?” How was this possible? His dad ran a nationwide philanthropy organization for helping orphans. She was sure Shane would follow in his rich dad’s footsteps. The kid began to fuss, and he rubbed the boy’s back. Shane glanced to the trucks then back at her. He touched her hand to move the phone toward him and sparks shot up her arm. She chalked it up to static electricity. “I’m a fireman and an arson investigator.” Really? She had a hard time imagining how this wealthy, spoiled high school kid had ended up saving people’s lives for a living. That was awesome. “Do you know how the fire started?” “The house was nearly gone when we got here. I tried to get inside, but the heat was too intense. I couldn’t have made it without gear.” The pain of failing seemed to nearly crush him. Two paramedics rushed up to them, and she backed off, not wanting to get in the way. They took the young boy. When Shane was holding him, Andy appeared to be in shock, mostly staring straight ahead as if he didn’t understand what had happened. Now the kid started to wail. Once the boy was safely away, she moved in again. “Where are his parents?”

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Shane swallowed hard. “I don’t know. I pray they weren’t inside.” He looked away. She could almost detect watery eyes. It was time to end the broadcast. Arm outstretched, she turned the camera back on herself. “This is Jessie McCallister. I’ll have more coming up online.” She stopped the recording. An older man in uniform rushed up to them. He wrapped an arm around Shane and moved him away, but she was close enough to hear the conversation. She spotted Scott still filming the firemen working the blaze, and she knew this would make a great story. “We’ll need you to investigate,” the older gentleman told Shane. He nodded. While he and his superior were talking, Cody touched her arm. “What are you doing here?” She nodded to the KRPT van. “As you can see I work for the station now. I’m a crime investigator. I just moved back a few days ago. And you?” He was tan, like his rancher father. Given his father and two uncles owned seventy-five thousand acres of prime ranch land, to say Cody came from an influential family would have been like saying she was a shy girl. “I own the town newspaper.” She huffed out a breath. “The Intrigue Sun?” That was the name of the paper in high school, but it had more fluff than substance. Maybe that was because there wasn’t much to report back then. Once again, she’d always imagined him either helping run his dad’s ranch or being a professional football player. Cody succeeded in everything he set his mind to. “The one and only. It’s not like you remember, though. I pride myself in being a good journalist and telling the truth.” Wouldn’t that be nice if every newspaper had the same philosophy? Her news station in Denver always had to be super concerned about stepping on the sponsors’ toes. They’d pulled one of her best investigative stories on fraud at a local department store

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because the station’s general manager had been afraid they’d lose advertising dollars. That had been the beginning of the end for her. Given Intrigue was so accepting in their belief in diversity and freedom of expression, she hoped politics or revenue wouldn’t play much of a role in her ability to report the news. Even though she’d never gone out with the rich boys in high school, she’d fantasized about them. Bad boys always attracted her, but she was savvy enough even back then not to accept their overtures. Looking back, she realized she might have been wrong in turning them down. These two had to be the hottest men she’d seen in a long time. A quick glance at Cody’s ring finger confirmed he might not be married. Though how all the women in Intrigue had failed to snag such a catch, she didn’t know. He was smart, rich, and almost too easy on the eyes. Cody had on a long-sleeved T-shirt with his pecs straining the top. What she wouldn’t give to run her hands down his abs. His slim hips implied he kept up with his horse riding and working the ranch. As for his face, his blue eyes and chiseled jaw still got to her. She slipped her business card out of her pocket and handed it to him. “Maybe we can keep in touch.” His grin reached his eyes. “You can count on that.” He flipped over her card. “Got a cell number?” Her pulse skipped a beat. Standing in front of his locker flashed in her mind when he’d asked her out to homecoming. She’d said no then, but not this time. “Sure.” She slipped the card from his grasp, making sure their fingers touched. Heat tripped up her spine. Something was wrong with her today. She never got weak-kneed in front of the camera and certainly not in front of a man. Ever. She located a pen, scribbled her number on the back, and handed him the card. “Call me.” “I will.” Shane had finished with his boss. He walked over to them, but he

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kept glancing at the burning building, almost as if he wished he were suited up and could run in and check to see if anyone else was inside. Just then, the firefighters raced from the building as part of the roof collapsed behind them. The loud crash made her jump. “Excuse me.” Shane took off at a jog. He was too far out of range to hear the conversation with the fellow firefighters. One way or another, she’d get the scoop. Five minutes later, Shane returned. Only this time, he was almost dragging his feet. He turned to Cody. “You better go. I’ll need to wait until the fire has cooled before I can investigate.” Cody grabbed his friend’s arm. “I’m not leaving. Did you learn what happened?” Shane glanced at Jessie, acting as if he wanted her to go away. That wasn’t going to happen. She had every right to be there and stayed her ground. “Chuck spotted two bodies on the bed just as the roof was coming down, so he and the men had to get out of there.” “I’m sorry.” Cody’s voice sounded thick. “You’ll find out what happened to them.” Dear God. Andy’s parents were dead. She couldn’t imagine a worse way to die than being trapped in a burning building. “You got that right. If the bodies are the Tanners, I can’t imagine what Andy will do.” He ran a hand down his smoke-covered face. She waited for Shane or Cody to ask her to stay around. When they didn’t, she headed back to the van. Not only did her stomach churn and ache for the little boy, but from the way Shane seemed to be reining in his emotions, he, too, was battling with his demons. As she slipped into the van, she knew Intrigue was going to live up to its name. **** While Shane had investigated many fires over the years, knowing

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the people who’d died had to be the hardest burden to bear. Before the fire truck took off, he borrowed some heavy boots and gear so he could perform his arson investigation. Once he was convinced the structure was cool enough to go in, he carefully stepped onto the fallen boards, making sure to choose the sturdiest ones to stand on. He’d already photographed the outside and surrounding area for evidence of foul play. It would have been nice if the arsonist had left the gas can outside the front door with his fingerprints on it. Then his job would have been done. If he finished checking the scene before it got dark, he’d see if Andy felt like talking. He wouldn’t be surprised if the little guy was too traumatized to speak, at least for a while. When Shane was six, he’d found his mother dead in her bed. He’d shaken her but gotten no response. It wasn’t until his dad came home that he learned his mom had gone to heaven. His father told him later on that Shane hadn’t spoken another word for days. Andy might go through something similar. Poor little guy. He wished there was something he could do for him. He just hoped child services could find someone to take the boy. You might as well get this over with. Since Shane had visited Greg and Rhonda on numerous occasions, he basically knew the location of the bedroom. This was the worst part of the job. Seeing where they died always tied up his gut. As he approached, his stomach soured. The burning building smelled like sweet, rotten food, an odor he never got used to. With camera in hand, he photographed the destruction. When he came to the bedroom area, he pushed aside the angry thoughts swirling in his brain. The injustice of it tore him up. His father, who he’d kept at arm’s length since he graduated high school, had taught him one valuable lesson. Showing emotion was a sign of weakness. Shane inhaled and drew on his professional skills, telling himself he needed to stay focused for the sake of the Tanners. The roof had collapsed on top of the bed. He’d have to move the

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wreckage himself. While Cody was somewhere sniffing out clues, and a bunch of cops were either cordoning off the area or searching for what police looked for at crime scenes, he needed to work solo. He couldn’t afford to have any untrained men come into the burned-out shell. Shane donned his well-insulated gloves and managed to shove the trusses to the side. When he uncovered the bed, his heart sank. Greg and Rhonda were lying there peacefully, as if they were unaware the house had ever been on fire. To him, that implied they might have been killed before the blaze started. At least he hoped that was the case. He shot photos of the bodies. Something tugged at him. Greg’s hands were in a prayerlike position with the tips of his fingers nearly touching his left shoulder. Under normal circumstances, when people burned to death, their muscles shrank and the body curled up in the fetal position. In this case, Greg’s hands were together, and that wasn’t normal. He’d almost finished documenting the scene when he spotted some cigarette paper on the bed. In fact, part of the cigarette was still intact. The problem was that to his knowledge neither Greg nor Rhonda smoked. He bagged the stub, hoping the lab would give him some answers. A glass bottle sat on the nightstand. He picked it up and placed it in another evidence bag. Maybe they’d been poisoned. That would explain why neither moved when the house caught on fire. But if so, why would the killer leave the evidence behind? Nothing was adding up, and yet so far, he saw no sign of arson. There weren’t the usual fire lines associated with an accelerant. Regardless, he took samples of what was left of the bed and drapes and would ask the lab to analyze it. The bedroom clearly was the origin, but how the fire started confused him. To someone who didn’t know the Tanners, they’d conclude the cigarette caught the bed on fire. Even if that were the case, two people would not watch the bed go up in flames and not

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move. Nope, this case was anything but cut-and-dry. By the time he actually finished, it was almost too dark to see. He spotted Cody on the other side of the house talking to one of the cops and made his way over there. “I’m through here for now.” Cody finished his questioning, joined him, and scrunched up his nose. “You stink.” “The hazards of the job. You’re no sweet peach either.” Cody shrugged. “You want to get something to eat?” Shane laughed. “Like this? What planet are you from?” “I meant after you and I clean up, dork.” Cody’s teasing was his way of lightening the mood. His roommate knew all too well that after a fire investigation, he’d be in a bear of a mood. “Works for me.” Shane took one last look at the house. Half of the structure still stood, but the roof was mostly gone. Good thing Andy’s room was on the side that was still standing. If Jessie hadn’t spotted the fire when she did and called the department, Andy would be dead. With the arson investigation on hold until he got the lab results back, he let his mind wander to the now-grown-up woman. He smiled. She never knew it, but she’d been the one who’d changed his life.

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Chapter Two Shane and Cody watched the late-night replay of the Tanner house burning down. Seeing the horror from the cameraman’s point of view brought more dismay. A few more minutes of hesitation and Andy might have been dead. Flames had shot out the window just as Andy had jumped. Shane leaned forward and kept close watch on the background to see if anyone might have been lingering, admiring his handiwork. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d caught sight of the offender waiting around to see the panic ensue. He bet his best pair of boots that if someone had set the fire, the arsonist never would have expected a news team to be nearby. Working during the daylight hours made sense. A fire at night would have been noticed sooner. The story on the TV changed to the citywide Labor Day festival this weekend, but he didn’t listen to the details. “What’s bugging you?” Cody always could read him. “What were Greg and Rhonda doing in bed in the middle of a Saturday afternoon?” His roommate leaned back in his chair. “What do you think two people do in bed in the middle of the day?” He knew his favorite pastime. Of late, he and Cody had been so involved in their jobs, they hadn’t engaged in any sharing activity. Duh. “They were having sex.” Shane rested his elbows on his knees. “Could they have been so caught up in the act that they didn’t notice the flames licking the bed?” Cody polished off the rest of his beer. “Hard to believe.” He

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turned back to the tube and nodded. “She looked good, didn’t she?” Shane didn’t need to ask who she was. He also appreciated Cody’s attempt to get his mind off the horrific situation. “Jessie was hot in high school.” That was why they’d both asked her out. Too bad she wanted nothing to do with the rich boys, as she called them. “Still is.” Cody shook his head. “We should have worked harder to win her back then.” Jessie was the type of woman they’d both wanted. She was beautiful, smart, and aggressive. Because she was raised by a single mom who held two jobs, Jessie worked harder than most people he knew. She said she’d be a success someday, and apparently she was right. Shane looked up. “It’s never too late.” When he’d asked her out, she’d turned him down and told him it was because he’d never understand her. She claimed that he had his life handed to him and that he didn’t know what it was like to be poor. Those words resounded in his head for years. Then when he overheard his father say that only twenty percent of the money received for his Save-The-Orphans Foundation actually went to the kids, Shane knew Jessie had been right. His father was basically a thief, and his dad hadn’t earned much of their wealth. After high school he spent years getting trained as a firefighter. As soon as he landed the job, he’d divorced himself from his father and started to live on what he earned. She’d never accuse him of not understanding what poor meant now. Okay, that wasn’t totally true. He lived in Cody’s elegant home, but at least he paid rent. Cody waved something. “I have her card. Do you think we should call her and let her know what you found out?” Shane couldn’t remember seeing the suave and sophisticated roommate so eager to go out with a woman. Cody usually had to fend the ladies off with a stick. Maybe that was because he had

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everything—charm, good looks, and money. But deep inside, he knew Cody wanted more. He longed for the stability and kind of love his parents had. Hell, Shane was barely able to remember his own mom and longed for what Cody wanted, too. Maybe that was why he spent so much time at the Callen ranch, enjoying the wonderful family dynamics. It was clear the woman Cody wanted was Jessie, someone Shane could see both of them sharing. “Call her, though I’m not sure what I can tell her, on or off the record.” “Maybe she did some digging today and can fill in some of the blanks. You didn’t know the Tanners that well. There might be something they kept from the outside world.” “True.” Shane glanced at the clock. “It’s after nine.” “So? Reporters don’t sleep.” He hadn’t seen Cody this wired in a long time. “Go for it.” **** Jessie had just jumped out of the shower and was drying off when her cell rang. Wrapping the towel around her body, she rushed out to the kitchen to answer the call. When she worked in Denver, she’d get calls at all hours. She smiled when she saw the name on the screen. “Cody, hello.” She was a bit shocked when her pussy dampened. She pulled off the towel and ran it through her legs, deciding the moisture must have been from the water. “Shane just got back from investigating the fire. We thought you might like to stop by and hear what he has to say.” It was after nine, but she didn’t mind if it meant she got to see those two hunks and get a lead at the same time. That was a win-win to her. From Cody’s calm delivery, she couldn’t tell if this was strictly business, or if he meant it as a date. She had given him her card and told him to call her. Either way, she wasn’t going to pass up the chance to reunite with them again. “Sure. Where?”

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He gave her his address and she scribbled it down. “Can you give me forty-five minutes?” She wanted to look her best. “We’ll be here.” Yes! If the two men lived together, they couldn’t be married. Coming home to Intrigue may have been the smartest thing she’d done in a long time. Yikes! She had to dress to attract, but she didn’t want them to think she was on the prowl. These men were used to sophistication, and that was what they would get. Jeans and boots seemed to be the norm in Intrigue, but a silky blouse, a casual hairstyle, and modest makeup would do the trick. She spent a bit too much time getting ready but arrived only ten minutes later than promised. The large homestead didn’t surprise her. After all, the Callen family owned half the town. Despite the chill in the air, her palms were sweating when she rang the bell. She bounced up and down until the door latch clicked. Then she inhaled and blew out a calming breath. Cody opened up the door and her heart stilled. She’d just seen him a few hours ago, yet the open-throated, button-down shirt tucked into low-slung jeans showed off his enticing body even more. “Come in.” His smile caused fluttering in her stomach. Maybe mixing business with pleasure wasn’t such a good idea. Both men, she knew from experience, had a way of jumbling her brain cells. Apparently, the eleven years she’d spent working on her career hadn’t prepared her well enough for these two hunks. Shane got up from the chair. His hair was still damp, but the rest of him was on fire. Focus. This is about the job. While neither man commented on her carefully put-together outfit, Cody’s dilated pupils implied he liked what he saw. He motioned she sit on the chair opposite the sofa. Shane moved toward the kitchen. “You want something to drink?

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Beer? Soda? Water?” “Soda would be great.” She didn’t need to be getting tipsy and do something she’d regret. Shane returned and handed her a cold can of Diet Pepsi. “Wow. You remembered.” Her heart sped up until she realized he didn’t know she was even in town until today. “Well, not exactly. Cody’s sister likes them.” Was this awkward or what? “How is Samantha? Or were you talking about April?” She couldn’t remember the youngest sister’s name. They didn’t run in the same circles. “April. She’s doing great.” Shane pulled out a folder that had an official seal on the front. Apparently, he wanted to get down to business and told her what he found. Before he got too far, she lifted her iPhone from her purse. “Mind if I record this?” “Go ahead, but I don’t think what I say will be fit for the news. I’ve found no evidence of arson yet.” “But you suspect it?” “Again, this is not for publication.” He glanced to the recorder. “I understand.” He told her about his belief that the Tanners didn’t smoke. “It’s highly possible they were in bed making love at the time the fire occurred.” “I don’t have kids, so I guess I’m not one to judge, but maybe they locked their door to keep Andy out in case he came looking for them. When they tried to get out, the lock jammed.” Shane took his time before answering. “Even if that were the case, the bodies were on the bed when I found them. If the lock had malfunctioned, I would have found their bodies by the door.” He had a point. “Maybe they were tied to the bed.” His eyes sparked, as if he appreciated her insight. “I thought of that. I looked for some rope or cuffs but saw nothing. With the fire being so intense around the bed, if the killer did tie them down with a

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scarf or used plastic tie wraps, the material would have burned up. I’ll see what the lab can find on the composition of the ashes. It’s a good thought.” He smiled and her body tingled all over. Forcing herself to focus on his words and not on what he did to her body, she sipped her drink. “That would be a long shot, I bet.” “I agree.” She turned to Cody, not that looking at him was any better. “I did a little background check on the Tanners this afternoon. Mr. Tanner worked at the local feedstore, and Mrs. Tanner worked as a secretary at a security firm.” Cody scooted forward on the sofa. “Their jobs weren’t a secret. What would their occupation have to do with their deaths?” “If this was arson, it implies someone wanted them dead. I wanted to see if their jobs would give me a clue.” “And did it?” She wasn’t sure why his lips had turned up. Damn him. He knew she had nothing. “No, but I won’t stop looking until Shane tells me it was a clear case of negligence on the part of the family.” Shane’s cell rang, and he retrieved the phone from his pocket. “It’s the medical examiner’s office. I need to take this.” It was after ten at night. It seemed as if the people of Intrigue never stopped working either. “Yeah, Jeff? You have something for me? Uh-huh. Steel? Like thumb rings? When will you get the results? Thanks.” He hung up and said nothing for a minute. Even Cody hadn’t moved. “What did he say?” Cody finally asked. “This case is getting stranger by the minute. Apparently, Greg had metal, steel to be exact, embedded in the bone on both thumbs, like he’d worn matching thumb rings.” “Maybe you could ask the people Mr. Tanner worked with at the feedstore if they remembered him wearing that kind of jewelry.” Shane shook his head. “I can’t imagine Greg into rings. He was a

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burly guy who complained all the time about having to shave every day.” An alternative explanation came to mind. She’d seen some wild shit in Denver, but this was out there even for the large city. “I went out with some policeman once, and he took me on a raid of a sex club. They had the man in thumb cuffs and were doing some rather unimaginable things to him.” She didn’t want to explain how one man was whipping the poor guy then proceeded to fuck him in the ass, while the other demanded a blow job. After that date, she didn’t go out with the cop again. Shane’s chest puffed out. “Greg and Rhonda weren’t into kink.” Her mouth gaped open. “How do you know?” She slapped a hand over her mouth. “Unless you were—” His brows pinched. “No. I wasn’t involved in a ménage relationship with them if that’s what you’re thinking. They were monogamous. Intrigue might embrace a lot of different sexual orientations, but the Tanners loved only each other.” Her cheeks heated. “I didn’t mean anything by it.” Shane must have realized he’d reacted a bit too strong. “Sorry, I’m still not myself.” She wasn’t convinced the loving couple wasn’t into something kinky that went terribly wrong. If Shane couldn’t handle the discussion, too bad. She was here to get to the bottom of the situation. “This might be too much information, but I went out with a guy who I later found out visited sex clubs all the time. I had no idea he was into domination.” She held up a hand. “What I’m trying to say is that sometimes a person can hide things, even from the woman he claimed to love.” Cody held her gaze for too long then slammed down the rest of his beer. “What else did the ME say?” He acted like her admission that she was in love with some strange guy meant nothing. That was an interesting note for her Cody file. “The doctor is running a tox screen on them now. He said the

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bottle next to the bed was cough suppressant.” “Maybe they took too much and fell asleep.” She usually didn’t draw conclusions without more facts, but Shane seemed to need answers. “Perhaps. Stuff like that has conked me out in the past, but I can tell you I’d wake up in a hurry if the house was on fire.” He had a valid point. “Could they have tied each other down, and when the fire occurred, they couldn’t get loose?” She waved a hand. “Never mind. That was stupid. If they were both tied down, they couldn’t have lit a cigarette.” Cody got up and grabbed another beer. He stepped past her. “Do you smoke?” “No.” “I don’t either, but I imagine if you’re so sick that you need to take cough medicine, you wouldn’t be smoking.” She dragged her gaze back to Shane. “So what’s your theory?” “Hell, if I know. I’ll wait for the tox screen to come back, as well as see if any of the materials around the bed were soaked in something.” “I trust they weren’t shot.” “I’m leaving that to the medical examiner to figure out. The bodies were too burned to tell.” “I’ll do some more digging to see if I can find out if anyone would want them dead.” Cody twisted toward her. “Leave the townsfolk to me. You’re a newcomer. You might do well using Internet searches, but the people around here will be more open with someone they know.” She didn’t doubt that, but it hurt to be considered an outsider. She was born and raised in Intrigue. When they’d exhausted their theories, she decided not to overstay her welcome. It was after eleven, and she needed to get her rest. To be honest, as depressing a topic as the Tanner deaths were, she’d enjoyed herself immensely. These two men had passion and commitment, two

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traits she found terribly sexy. The big question was how could she get them interested in her? She turned off the recorder on her phone, slapped her thighs, and stood. “We’ll have to do this more often, but I can see I have a big job in front of me.” She faced Shane. “Please let me know when you know what started the fire.” “Will do.” Cody stood. “Are you sure you have to leave?” His brows rose. A thousand thoughts raced through her head about what he wanted. Was he interested in merely catching up since high school, or was he more interested in a physical liaison? If she wanted to have a meaningful relationship with these two, she didn’t need to be jumping in the sack right away. “I’m not leaving town anytime soon.” She tossed him her sexiest smile and headed to the door. Cody followed her out. “When can we see each other again?” Her throat turned dry, but her panties made up for it. “You’ve got my number.” She turned her back, unable to look him in the face and not kiss him. As cool as she could, she walked to her car, aware that he hadn’t yet closed the door. She slipped in the driver’s side, rolled down the electric windows, and waved. For the whole way home, the smile never left her face. **** When Jessie’s taillights disappeared, Cody went back inside. “So what do you think?” “I’m wondering about her agenda.” Shane was talking crazy. “What do you mean?” “I know what you’re asking. You’re wondering if she might be the one. Right?” “Yes. She’s everything we want in a woman. She’s making a good living, I bet, so she won’t be after me for my wealth.”

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Shane got up and headed into the kitchen. He came back with an apple and a beer. How Shane lived on the odd combinations of food he ingested, he didn’t know. “Jessie always hated wealth. Now that she has a good job, she seems to have changed her tune. Did you see her expensive clothes? Even her hair was highlighted with blonde streaks. She’s changed.” “You’re just tired.” “Maybe, but I’d keep an eye out for her.” Cody leaned back in his chair and flipped on the TV. “If you don’t want her, I do. I bet she’d be hot in bed.” “Don’t get me wrong. I’d almost be willing to hang up my fireman boots to sink my cock in that ass, but let’s see where her moral compass is pointing before we team up.” Cody shrugged. “I’ll give her a few days. Then I plan on asking her out. Maybe I’ll take her to the Labor Day festivities this weekend.” “I might be up for that with you. We’d get to see the real Jessie.” “As opposed to the aggressive reporter?” “I like the aggressive reporter in her. Let’s see how she handles the information I gave her.” His head spun. “You think she’d put the off-the-record information you gave her online?” “I’m worried she might twist my words.” “I’m betting she won’t leak anything you told her.” Or at least, he hoped she wouldn’t. He’d watched her eyes and saw the concern in them. “She really seemed to want to get to the truth, even if it meant there was no story.” Shane bit into his apple. “I say let’s stay close to her. People can’t hide their real nature for long. The question I pose is, will she forsake her core beliefs for the job? Or is she the same Jessie we knew and wanted?” “All I know is that I sure as hell plan to have fun while I find out the answer to that question.”

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Chapter Three Jessie spent the whole next day working on the Tanner fire story but wasn’t able to uncover anything that appeared suspicious. Cody must have either worked long into the night or gotten up extra early this morning, because there was an article on the fire in the Intrigue Sun. The Tanners only had two neighbors, and neither of them had seen or heard anything according to the paper. That was one downside of living on a thousand acres far from anyone. “Hey, Jessie.” She looked up from her desk. Walt Mitchell, her boss, was standing over her. Every time she saw him, the image of Ichabod Crane came to mind. This man looked nothing like Johnny Depp, the last actor to play him in Sleepy Hollow, but rather a more gaunt version she’d formed in her mind. While Walt always dressed in a neat, black suit, his greasy, slicked-back hair and pitted skin made him look like he belonged more in the nineteenth century than the twenty-first. “What’s up?” “We loved your piece on the Tanner fire. Nice job.” “Thank you. I’m waiting for the arson report, so I can do a followup story.” He waved a hand. “Oh, I don’t think there is anything more we need to cover. I have a new assignment for you.” She wasn’t close to putting away the Tanner investigation. “What is that?” “Several of the children have had their bikes stolen from the school yard.”

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She waited for him to tell her that one of the parents confronted the thief, and the man shot the parent. “Isn’t that the job for the police department?” He let out a sigh. “Yes, but find out what they know.” She was about to say she wasn’t a newspaper reporter, but decided to keep her mouth shut. Getting fired the first week on the job wouldn’t be smart. “Sure.” As soon as Ichabod walked away, she picked up the Intrigue Sun and noted the number to call for information. Cody had said he had a few staff members, so she was surprised when he answered. “Cody Callen.” The smooth way he said his name made her toes curl. She had contacted him for one purpose, but a new thought entered her brain. “Hey, it’s Jessie.” “What can I do for you?” His tone was upbeat, and he actually sounded excited to hear from her. “Do you, or can you, get a hold of photos of the Tanners?” “Why?” Ichabod walked out of his office and was within earshot. “Would it be possible to meet with you?” Her station was on the edge of town, whereas the Intrigue Sun sat in the center. “Sure. When?” “Now? I could drive over.” Since he’d answered the phone, he was at the office. “I’ll be waiting.” She picked up her purse and headed out. If she needed to shoot any video, her iPhone was her best friend. If her boss saw her, he’d think she was on the way to either the police department or the school to investigate the bike thefts. He couldn’t have been further from the truth. Her real destination was the Siren Lounge sex club, hopefully with Cody Callen in tow. When she entered the Intrigue Sun office, Cody came barreling toward her as if he couldn’t wait to see her. Most likely he thought

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she had a new lead and wanted to share it with him. For her own ego, she decided he was excited because he got to see her again. “Hey.” “What’s up?” He stood close enough for her to smell his yummy, woodsy, pine-scented cologne and see the green and brown flecks dotting his penetrating blue eyes. “Did you find the photos of the two deceased Tanners?” “Yes. Follow me.” He wrapped an arm around her waist, and his strong touch ignited her back. Tingles exploded up her spine. If she wanted to be able to focus on her job, she didn’t need to have this distraction, but she could no more step away than two polar opposite magnets could break apart on their own. The main area of the newspaper office had four desks no more than five feet apart from each other. One of the four sat empty. A phone rang at one of the desks, but its owner wasn’t there. The clang of presses sounded in the background. That was odd since they wouldn’t be printing anything this late in the morning. Maybe times had changed. Cody led her over to a middle-aged woman. “Wanda, do you have the obit pictures for the Tanners?” She blinked a few times, as if she wasn’t used to having the boss actually come up to her desk. “Yes.” A second later she stood, waddled over to a file cabinet, and pulled out a file. She extracted two photos and returned. “I was able to locate Mr. Tanner’s mother. She had photos of both her son and daughter-in-law.” Jessie touched Cody’s arm. “Can I borrow these? Or at least get a copy?” “Sure.” He turned back to the obituary worker. “Can you make a copy and bring it into my office?” “Yes, sir.” Her hand shook as she took back the pictures. Cody led Jessie past the other desks into a glass-walled office. “Have a seat and tell me why you want their photos.” This was going to be the hard part of the conversation. “I didn’t

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know the Tanners, but I wanted to explore the kinky sex slant.” Cody’s jaw lowered as he tilted his chin downward. “Why?” “I’ve been doing some research. If the metal on Greg Tanner’s thumbs was a result of thumb cuffs, that could mean they were either into some kink or had been involved in drug trafficking. According to my sources, the Colombian drug cartel uses such tactics.” Cody leaned back and laughed. “You are something else. This is Intrigue, remember? We don’t have men with AK-47s walking around or Colombian drug lords.” She knew she’d get this reaction. “I thought you wanted the truth.” He blinked. “I do.” “Then why not exhaust every avenue?” He studied her for a moment. “You have a point. Where do you want to start?” She stilled. “I was planning on showing the photos to the workers of the Siren Lounge.” While she’d never been in that establishment, she’d heard all the tales about the bizarre sexual exploits that occurred there. One could either pay to watch people have sex or participate and get paid. “You want to go into the Siren Lounge?” His smile grew with each word. A knock sounded and the door creaked open. Wanda stuck her head in. “I have what you asked for.” She glanced from Cody to her. Cody jumped up and took the copies from her. “Thanks.” She ducked back out. He faced Jessie. “You ready to investigate?” She stood. “You don’t have to come along.” Being in a place where there were naked people and having Cody by her side might overload her senses. “I’m a reporter. I want to get to the bottom of this, too. If the Tanners were murdered, I want to be the first to find out.” She grinned. “Hope you don’t mind being second.”

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He laughed. “You ready to see the seamier side of Intrigue?” “Kink is not necessarily seamy.” Oh, God. Had she really said that? Now he’d think she wanted to be tied down and spanked. She closed her eyes tightly for a second and pushed aside that delicious thought. She’d never had a ménage relationship before. In her heart, she knew she was waiting for Shane and Cody to come into her life. His hand seemed firmer on her waist as if he didn’t want her out of his sight. “I’ll drive.” That worked for her. His truck wasn’t new by any stretch, but the inside was clean. She pressed the window button to get some air. Being in such a closed space with him jumbled her brain. “So, you’re thinking the guy at the front desk will recognize these two as regulars, tell you about it without a warrant, and you’ll eliminate the drug cartel as a suspect?” When he put it that way, her idea did seem a bit stupid. “I guess that was my thinking. Lame, huh?” He shrugged. “I figured you knew that, but you contacted me because you wanted to see me again.” He winked and her face heated up. Had he developed X-Ray vision into her mind? “No. I needed their picture for not only the news, but also in case something else turned up.” That sounded reasonable. “Uh-huh.” He grinned, and her body seemed to catch on fire. She said nothing more. Fortunately, the sex club was less than a mile away. He parked in front. “You sure you want to go in?” His tone held concern as well as something she couldn’t put her finger on. Here she’d prided herself on reading people. She guessed Cody had a secret stash of Kryptonite in his pocket designed to keep her off balance. “Yes.” The daylight did not show the club in the best condition. It needed some paint and a new door. It looked like someone had smashed a hand through one of the panels. The trash on the sidewalk

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was anything but inviting. “Come on then. You’ll be safe with me.” She wasn’t sure if he meant he’d keep her safe from the unsavory elements inside or he wouldn’t put the moves on her. Once inside, her eyes took a moment to get used to the dark. There was a desk at the entrance where a short, stubby man sat behind. “Cody. Little lady. You come for a little viewing or a little doing?” The man raked his gaze up and down her. She was about to little lady him when Cody had the nerve to chuckle. He nudged her to produce the photos. “Do you recognize these people?” Wait a minute. This guy knew Cody? Was it because he was a regular or because he ran the only newspaper in town? “The Tanners? Sure.” Her heart raced. “Do you remember the last time they were in here?” The stubby man leaned back. “They ain’t never been in here. I just knew them. Nicest people in the world. In fact, my son did some contracting work for them. Installed the solar panels on their roof.” He waved a hand. “It’s a shame you came all the way out here for nothing.” Damn. “Thanks for your time.” He cleared his throat. “If you want, you’re welcome to take a peek around. It’s a little dead now, but come Friday or Saturday night, I bet you’ll find something that strikes your fancy.” He winked, but his overture did nothing for her. “We have women on women, men on men, and my personal favorite, two or three guys on one girl.” He grinned. While the light was dim, his teeth glowed yellow. He handed the photos back to her. She looked up at Cody. “I guess I got what I came for.” Cody rubbed her arms. “Sure you don’t want to try out a room? Mano y mano? I mean reporter to reporter?” His chuckle shot down her throat, straight to her pussy.

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“You’re a laugh a minute.” His eyes turned a darker blue, and her whole body vibrated. “Let’s get out of here.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulder as if they’d been a couple forever. What was his game? Was he trying to see how far he could push her? The big question was how far did she want to go? Her goal was to get him into bed. The chase was part of the fun, but Cody seemed to be moving pretty fast and was way too willing. Being confused about what she wanted rarely had been her issue. She’d spotted something she desired and went for it. With Cody and Shane she hadn’t expected the path to be so fraught with potholes that made her trip over herself. As soon as they stepped outside, she squinted against the bright light. “So, you going with the Colombian drug cartel theory now that you’ve eliminated kink?” “You got a better theory? I’m open to anything you can think of.” Whoops. From the twinkle in his eye, he took her comment the wrong way. She didn’t mean to imply she was into kink herself. She would never submit to neck collars or caning. Nor would she agree to be put in a pillory whereby she’d be naked and helpless. With her hands and head constrained in the wooden stocks, a man could lick and probe her anytime he wanted. Couldn’t have that! Her damn pussy squirted out some juices thinking about that. Traitor. Cody tapped her shoulder. “Jessie. You okay?” She looked up at him. His brows were pinched and he seemed to be searching her eyes. “Sure. Why?” “You were just standing there, staring into space.” Oh, shit. She knew he couldn’t read minds. If he could, he might suggest they go back inside. She shrugged as casually as she could despite her heart firing rapidly. “Just thinking.”

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He held open the passenger side door for her. “Before I draw any conclusion, I’m going to wait for Shane’s lab results to come in.” Smart. “Does Shane send his evidence to Cheyenne?” She figured Intrigue was a bit too small to have its own crime lab, and Cheyenne was the capitol. “Yes, but the police department has some capabilities.” Cody glanced at his cell. “It’s a bit early, but do you want to catch a bite to eat?” “I wish I could. I have to follow up on some bike thefts at the local elementary school.” He laughed. “You’re kidding. Walt has you wasting your time on that kind of story?” That piqued her interest. “What do you know about the stolen bikes?” “Not much. They’ve interviewed a few people but have come up short. There’s no story there. Besides, the bikes were taken over a week ago.” What was Walt trying to pull? Was he subtly trying to pull her from the Tanner case? “I’ll head over anyway. We’ll do lunch some other time, if that’s okay with you.” She probably should have accepted, but she needed some distance to get her head on straight. “Sure.” Cody parked in the back parking lot of the newspaper office. “If you change your mind, call me.” “I will.” She smiled and slid out. What was wrong with her? As soon as she stepped into the sex club, the reporter part of her brain had disengaged. It was all Cody’s fault. No sooner had she gotten into her car when her cell rang. It was Shane. Now that was a nice surprise. “Hey, Shane.” “I got some more information on the fire, but I’d rather not tell you over the phone.” Her senses shot to alert. Did he think someone was listening in to the conversation? “I can meet you.” She bet when Cody learned she’d ditched a lunch offer to meet with Shane, he wouldn’t be too happy.

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“How about Hooper’s Park?” If someone were listening, they’d know where they were going, but eavesdropping would be more difficult in the open. The park he chose was where all the high school kids used to hang out. It also was close to the elementary school, so that worked out well for her. “When?” “Ten minutes work for you?” “Sure.” She’d actually be there sooner than that. When she arrived, the park was mostly empty, which was probably why Shane wanted to meet there. While there were a lot of picnic tables, she chose one of the benches under a tree, not too far from the parking lot. Less than five minutes later, Shane got out of his truck and came toward her. She loved how his broad shoulders didn’t move as he strode closer. His compact motion spoke of a highly tuned machine. What she wouldn’t give to see his engine up close and personal. Stop it. You’re here for work. Her lips seemed to turn up on their own when he sat down. “Thanks for coming.” He placed a hand over hers, and it was like a bolt of electricity had shot through her. She cleared her throat and slowly pulled her hand out from under his. He didn’t seem to notice. “What did you find out about the fire?” “The police department was able to test the cigarette paper I found. It was wrapped around marijuana.” She had to think about what that meant. “Are you thinking they got so stoned that when the bed caught on fire, they didn’t move?” He shook his head. “While I’d never seen either Greg or Rhonda smoke, I know for a fact they’d never do marijuana.” “How can you be so sure?” She kept her voice neutral. If he thought she was questioning his integrity, he’d clam up quickly. “Greg’s brother was into drugs and died a few years back from an overdose. That prompted Greg to work part-time for a nonprofit organization to help those who were dependent.”

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While she never had any siblings, if she had, she couldn’t imagine losing one of them and not being able to help. “If they absolutely wouldn’t have been smoking a joint, are you saying someone deliberately set the fire using a marijuana cigarette?” “It’s possible. There are some horrible people out there, but I can’t draw that conclusion without more proof.” He glanced around, almost as if he expected to see someone lurking. Did Shane really think someone might want to shut him up? “Is there something I can do to help?” “I thought maybe you could do a bit more research on Rhonda at Harman Security. They’re not local, so I don’t know much about them.” “It’s hard to believe a security company would be unsavory. That would be like saying the police were dirty. Why not look into Greg’s background, too?” “He worked at the local feedstore. I’ve known the owners for years. They’re upstanding folks.” “Call me cynical, but sometimes even the nicest people can be crooks.” “True.” Shane edged closer, causing her senses to shoot to high alert. The birds were making a racket nearby, and she saw a mother push a baby in a carriage, but she wasn’t sure why they were having this clandestine meeting. “Why did you want to meet in the park?” Was he in danger? She prayed he was overreacting. “So I could do this.” He leaned over, cupped her face, and kissed her. Her body lit up. She’d dreamed about kissing the dark-haired, sexy Shane McKee for too many years. He totally lived up to the hype. Jessie leaned into him and opened her mouth a bit to test whether he wanted to deepen the kiss. She squeezed his muscular arms for balance. Shane took her up on her invitation and ran his tongue along her teeth before exploring her mouth. A whirlwind of emotions

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electrified every cell. Touching Shane made one of her dreams come true. When his thumb brushed against her breast, she pulled away. “Okay. I didn’t see that coming.” Her breath came out in pants. Shane’s expression was totally unreadable. Oh, shit. Had she offended him? In truth, she was confused by the sudden interest. He ran a hand down her arm. “You didn’t seem to mind.” His tone came out lighter than she expected. “No.” In fact, if they hadn’t been outdoors, she might have let herself go with the flow and test more of his talents. They locked gazes, and she instantly pictured him naked on top of her. She scooted back and stood. “I guess I better go and see what I can uncover.” He chuckled. What was up with these two men? Had they decided to gang up on her? No, she’d called Cody, not the other way around. Shane got up. “I’ll walk you back to your car. Let me know if you learn anything.” He was back to the reserved man she’d seen at the scene. He slid a hand over his head. “If I say the fire was an accident, the Tanners will never get any justice, and Andy will always wonder if there was anything he could have done to help. I need to find proof this wasn’t their fault.” The sudden change in the timbre of his voice took her by surprise. Then she remembered hearing that Shane’s mom had died when he was young, but she never knew any of the details. “I’ll do my best.” Shane was holding open her car door when he got a call. He pulled out his cell and held up a finger. “The ME.” He listened for a bit, asked a few questions, and discontinued. “The Tanners died from smoke inhalation.” “I thought that’s what you always believed.” “I was hoping for a bullet through the heart. That at least would explain why they were in bed. Now I know they were alive when the fire was started.” Oh, God. “That’s more tragic.” He nodded. “The medical examiner said they had a significant

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amount of cough suppressant in their bodies. About five times the recommended dose.” Her mind spun, trying to put the facts in order. “If we assume they were so drugged up that they slept through the fire, they wouldn’t have been able to light up a joint.” Which was the same argument she’d used for them not tying each other up. “My point exactly.” “Can you claim someone murdered the Tanners based on that conclusion?” “No, which is why I need you.” “I’ll do everything I can to help.” If this story had broken in Denver, she might have been afraid to ask questions. Reporters who got close to arsonists often got burned.

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Chapter Four Jessie made no headway in getting to speak with Rhonda’s bosses. She couldn’t exactly come out and ask if Rhonda Tanner had found out some deep, dark secret bad enough for someone to want to kill her. Jessie did, however, get the number for Rhonda’s mom from Wanda, Cody’s obituary writer. Jessie hoped that if something bad had gone down Rhonda would have told her mom about her suspicions. Jessie had tried to contact her, but now had to wait for a return call. Ichabod silently floated to her desk. The man must have worn super rubber soles. “You find out about the bike thefts?” Shit, she hadn’t had time. “Not yet, but I’m working on it.” She smiled as sweetly as she could. “I didn’t see anything online from you today.” She had to cover at least one story a day or chance losing her job. “Nothing else I found out seemed newsworthy, but I’m still working on the Tanner case.” His eyes brightened. “Did the arson report come back?” She thought he wanted her to drop the case. “I spoke with the investigator in charge, and he’s on the fence about the cause of the blaze.” “Hmph.” Ichabod spun around and floated back to his cave. She wondered how he expected her to write a story with no crime. She couldn’t exactly ask someone to break into a jewelry store and steal some diamond necklaces so she could write something any more than she could anticipate who would be the next hero. In Denver, there was never a shortage of news. She’d hoped that when she came to Intrigue, she’d be able to

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focus on one story and see it to its completion, but she understood people’s attention spans were short. Once more, she scooted out of the building, determined to find some scrap of information on the bike thefts. Maybe she should start at the police department. While it was fun to catch up with Police Chief Randy Strong, who she remembered from high school after he gave a speech to the kids about drugs and drinking, he provided no more information than what Cody had told her. Tomorrow, she’d have to scour more police reports for more crime. Exhausted from a day of running around in circles, Jessie wanted nothing more than to soak in the tub. Too tired to even cook, she picked up a pizza from the shop across the street from work and headed home. The police scanner was on, but there wasn’t a fight in sight. Maybe there was just too much love in this town. Having to resort to writing stories about lost dogs and Peeping Toms wouldn’t keep her attention for long, or her viewers’. As soon as she ate, she headed into the bathroom for a good soak. The warm water partially revived her. There was nothing like lavender bath salts to get a girl’s libido going. She wished for once, she could turn off her brain. Too often, she’d be thinking about how to word something when the image of Cody or Shane would pop up. That didn’t help when trying to write good copy. Even when in the tub, she kept hoping for the cell to ring, thinking maybe one of her two heartthrobs would call her. No one did, not even her mom. At least her mother had an excuse. She worked two jobs and was busy. Jessie would have a late night tonight making sure she hadn’t missed any crimes. Chief Strong had provided her with the last few months of police activity. There might be a follow-up story if she looked hard enough. As soon as she got out of the tub, she spread out the reports on the dining room table. The Callen name jumped out at her right away. She was shocked to read that Samantha Callen had been shot by

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rustlers. My God. Why hadn’t Cody mentioned this? She prayed Sam was okay. The follow-up reports mentioned there had been a fire at her ranch. Jessie scanned the reports for more information. Finally, she saw the men responsible for the fire, the shooting, and cattle thefts were brought to justice. She’d have to give Sam a call to see how she was doing. Nothing else in the reports seemed to warrant further investigation. Damn. By the time she fell asleep it was past 2:00 a.m. No sooner had she closed her eyes than her alarm clock sounded. After dragging herself out of bed and pouring coffee down her throat, she drove into town. She had just gotten in her car when her phone rang. It was Cody. “Hey, what’s up?” “Got a story for you.” She perked up. “What about?” “I have it on good authority there’s a health issue over at Burger Haus. I know you’re having trouble finding good leads.” It was a crime not to be enforcing the health laws. “I think I’ll pass.” “That’s not the go-getter woman I know.” No, it wasn’t. “Here’s the problem. Burger Haus is one of KRPT’s sponsors.” “So? When did that ever stop you?” “You don’t understand. That’s what got me into trouble in Denver.” “Are you saying you value your job over doing what’s right?” When he put it that way, it made her sound shallow. “No. I just know a good story when I hear it, and this isn’t it.” “That’s such a cop-out. I guess I’ll just have to check it out myself and break the story wide open.” He wouldn’t dare. “You’re right. Absolutely right. I’ll go check it out right away.” She’d find nothing. She’d make sure of it. She turned left onto Euclid and spotted Burger Haus on the left. “I’ll absolutely

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take a look. No need for you to come.” And ruin everything. “If you’re sure. Let me know what you find out.” She swore he chuckled. An empty spot appeared next to a cop car in the parking lot. She parked next to it and peeled out of her seat. She exhaled, getting ready to do a fake story. If any of her Denver coworkers could see her now, they’d laugh her out of town. She heard the shouting before she reached the door. What the hell was going on? Her pulse raced. As she pulled open the door, she dragged out her iPhone in case there was a real story here. Inside two women were shouting at each other. One was a customer and the other a worker behind the counter. Before she started recording, she asked someone who looked like they knew the shouting woman, the irate woman’s name and what happened. The friend gave her a word-for-word replay of what went down. Holding the phone at arm’s length, Jessie pretended this was live coverage. “This is Jessie McCallister coming to you from the Burger Haus where Bessie Johnson purportedly ordered curly fries and instead was given straight fries. Let’s listen in.” Dear God, did I just say that? The policeman was restraining the complaining woman. “I’m telling you, this fat pig gave me the wrong item.” The loud shouting might come out distorted on the recording, but that couldn’t be helped. The woman behind the register leaned over the counter. “I did not. She asked for straight fries, and that’s what she got. I can show you right here on the receipt.” As she opened the register, a large roach crawled over her hand. Jessie expected the worker to scream. In fact, Jessie wanted to scream herself but didn’t. The worker waited until the roach crawled by before she stuck her hand in the drawer. She handed a copy of the receipt to the cop. The poor policeman’s eyes had widened significantly, but he

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probably figured his job was only to subdue these two women, not report a health violation. The altercation continued, but Jessie couldn’t listen to any more of the fight. The whole thing was ridiculous. She held the phone to face her. “Well, there you have it, folks. Make sure you repeat your order so mistakes don’t get made. This is Jessie McCallister reporting from the Burger Haus.” She stopped the recording. Cody was right. Damn. This place was a walking violation. She got out of there fast. Could this day start off any worse? She needed breakfast, but she sure as hell wasn’t going to order anything from here. She got back to the office and wrote up what happened. She needed to pass it by Ichabod even though she knew he’d kill the story. Stepping on sponsors’ toes was always bad for business. He leaned over her computer. “You got a lead?” Her heart lurched at the unexpected interruption. She looked up. “Yes. It’s called the war between curly and straight fries.” “Show me.” Was he serious? She turned her computer and played the sixty-second spot. “You can’t use that.” “It’s too ridiculous, huh?” “The part about the fight is good, but you can’t show the roach. That could kill Burger Haus’s business.” “Maybe it ought to. That place is disgustingly filthy.” The joint hadn’t been so bad when she was in high school. “Cut the roach part and show the rest.” “If the store is that dirty, why shouldn’t they be exposed?” He blew out a breath. “McCallister, there’s a lot you need to learn about the business. You know Burger Haus is a corporate sponsor. We don’t piss on who’s paying our bills. Do I make myself clear?” Jerk. “Perfectly.” He did a spin maneuver and headed back to his cave. She wouldn’t become unglued because she couldn’t show the roach. Rocking the boat this early on in her career wouldn’t be smart.

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Now she had to call Cody and tell him the bad news. “So you’re going to let Walt kill the story?” he said. “He’s letting me keep the fight.” “Chicken, chicken, chicken.” She chuckled. “I can’t do anything about it. I’m not the boss.” “Bok, bok, bok.” “What do you want me to do? Even if I did a full-fledged investigation on Burger Haus’s filth, I couldn’t get the story past my boss.” “Suit yourself, but in my world, covering evidence is tantamount to lying. That’s about the only thing that turns me off. Someone’s on the other line. Talk to you later.” He disconnected. Well, that was abrupt. Uh-oh. Did he really mean it about the lying? Was he saying that he would never be interested in her if her boss never ran controversial stories? It wasn’t her fault. She’d tried to do something, and it didn’t pan out. Whatever. Once she finished making the story politically correct, she leaned back in her chair and rubbed her eyes. So far, other than the Tanner fire and the domestic violence call, nothing deserved to be aired. Wanting to give one more try to connect with Rhonda’s mom, she dialed the Indiana number. There was no answer, so Jessie left another message just in case the woman missed the first one. She spent the rest of the morning reading downloaded police reports for something to investigate. Nothing really caught her attention. Her cell rang. The caller ID said it was Shane. “Good morning.” “I was wondering if you’d like to join me for lunch.” She hadn’t eaten any breakfast, and she was starving. “I’d love to.” “Pick you up in fifteen minutes?” “Great.”

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The last time she’d seen him, he’d kissed her. She jetted into the ladies room, fixed her hair, and reapplied some lipstick. Not wanting to keep him waiting, she rushed outside. The day was perfect. The sun was out, and the temperature was a wonderful seventy-five degrees. Shane pulled up to the curb in his truck and got out. “You look nice. Ready?” “Yup.” He held open the door. Men in Denver didn’t have as nice manners as Shane and Cody. “Where are we going?” “To one of my favorite places. It’s a throwback to high school. I hope you’ll like it.” As long as Shane was with her, she’d be happy. He pulled into Burger Haus. Or not. No way she’d go in there. He got out and opened her door. She held up her hand. “I don’t think this is a good place.” His brows furrowed. “Why?” “It’s dirty.” He scratched his jaw then pulled his phone from his pocket. She thought he was going to do a search for another hamburger place. Instead he pressed the record button. “So tell me, Jessica McCallister, why don’t you want to eat at the Burger Haus?” Damn them. She wanted to wipe the smirk off his face. He and Cody had ganged up on her. “I’m a vegetarian.” He burst out laughing. “Since when?” Two seconds ago. “Last night I saw a special on how much steroids and hormones are fed to our farm animals.” She thought that was a nice catch. “I know for a fact they have good salads.” He was determined to get her to say on tape that this place was a walking code violation. She wasn’t going to let them intimidate her. “Great. Let’s go.”

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Chapter Five What were Shane and Cody trying to prove by ganging up on her? That she shouldn’t give in to the pressure of big money? Rich men like them wouldn’t understand what it was like to be poor. Cody’s talk about lying was probably just a smoke screen to get her to act more responsibly. At first she’d avoided doing the story, but in the end wished she’d been able to. Maybe Cody would step up to the plate and finish the job. Places like the Burger Haus needed to be held accountable. No sooner had Shane dropped her off than her phone chirped. She read the text message. Hope you had a good lunch. Any interest in joining Shane and me for the Labor Day festivities in town? The guy didn’t quit. She might have pretended to be mad, but her body was excited. So excited in fact that a shiver of delight raced up her spine and ratcheted up her energy. She sat up straighter. The fact she was being escorted by both of them implied they were taking pity on the relative newcomer. She figured this wasn’t a date, but she’d take what she could get. She texted back. Sure. When? Where? The response came back immediately, which implied picking up the phone would have been quicker, but it was nice to keep the

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conversation private. He texted back asking if she wanted to meet him at his place at 10:00 a.m. Monday morning. That worked for her. She’d have all weekend to mentally prepare for the emotional assault of being sandwiched between two yummy men. She was typing the response when the cell rang. It was Cody. Maybe he, too, realized speaking would be easier. “Hey, I was just responding.” She kept her voice low, but the excitement and cheer leaked out anyway. “Shane just got notified that the lab report came back from the ashes at the Tanner house. Apparently, it revealed something. He wants to tell us both. Can you meet at the Eatery right now?” The coffee shop was halfway between his work and hers. “Sure. I’m on my way.” She might be able to grab some real food. While the salad tasted fine at Burger Haus, she couldn’t enjoy even one bite. Fortunately, at KRPT, she didn’t need to check out every time she left the office. As the crime reporter, they understood that she had to act on leads at a moment’s notice. She got to the Eatery after Cody but before Shane. Cody stood when he spotted her, and her heart sped up. Dressed in a tailored blue suit, he looked more handsome than any man had a right to. Instead of asking why the smart attire, she kept her mouth shut and looked for the waitress. Jessie seriously needed an infusion of caffeine. “So, did Shane give you a clue what the ashes contained?” “Plastic.” His one-word response implied he was still thinking about how she should have fought for what was right. He’d wanted her to expose the dirty burger joint. That was easy for him to do when he had money and didn’t have to worry about losing his job. He owned the damned paper. She returned her mind to the fire. Too many options occurred to her. Before she could voice any of them, the waitress came over with her pad in hand, and Shane bustled in. He was dressed in jeans and

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heavy work boots, and his muscles bulged under his tight T-shirt. Her nipples hardened looking at him. Not cool. Not being able to control her reaction to these men might get her into trouble. Jessie ordered a large mocha cappuccino and a bagel. Both men ordered their coffee black. Figures. That was why they had abs. In Denver, she made herself hit the gym at least twice a week. When time permitted, she jogged three miles. As soon as she got more settled in her job, she’d try to eat more nutritionally balanced meals and join a gym. The word plastic registered, and she looked over at Shane. “Cody said you found plastic in the ashes. Do you think it came from tie wraps?” She was sticking to her theory that the Tanners had been tied up. “It’s possible.” Her pulse sped up, and she hadn’t even had her caffeine yet. “Does that mean this could have been a murder?” She held up a hand. “Wait. Wait. Would you mind if I bring in my cameraman and interview you?” “I have no problem with that.” Excited she’d get to do another real interview with one of the town’s two heroes, she called Scott. “I just finished up a shot. We did a number at the zoo. I’ll be right over.” She disconnected and faced Shane. “My cameraman will be here momentarily. I appreciate your willingness to do an interview.” “I’ll only state the facts.” “Works for me.” Finally, the waitress came by with their drinks and a bagel. Jessie was so hungry she inhaled the small meal and drank as much of the hot liquid as her tongue could tolerate. Five minutes later, Scott rushed in with the camera on his shoulder. A hush fell over the Eatery. “I’m ready,” he announced. His red hair stuck out at odd angles as

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if he’d walked through a wind tunnel. Plates clattered and chairs scraped. “Maybe we should take this outside where it will cause less of a commotion.” The sound resolution would be better, too. They motioned to the waitress that they’d be back. She smiled and nodded. Outside, she straightened Shane’s T-shirt, pretending that she wanted him to look perfect on camera. Not that he needed straightening in any way. She just wanted to touch him. Scott did his white balance act then handed her the microphone. She stood next to Shane and did her usual introduction. “Can you tell us what you found out during the investigation?” He pulled out the report. “Behind the deceased’s bed, I collected some ashes. Most of the residue was wood and paper, but some was plastic.” “Were you able to determine what type of plastic?” “The plastic matches the type used in tie wraps.” This was the best part. “Are you saying that the Tanners might have been restrained to the bed, and that’s why they couldn’t flee the blaze?” Her palms moistened as she searched his unreadable face. The man certainly was cool under pressure. Speaking on camera didn’t seem to bother him one bit. Shane looked straight into the lens. “I’m not a detective. I only present the facts. I can’t prove that the plastic residue positively came from tie wraps. Nor can I conclude that the Tanners were restrained.” Damn. “But you suspect it.” Give me something to work with. His lips hardened. “Given the analyzed ashes were behind the bed and directly below where the hands would have been, it’s possible. A jury would have to decide.” “So where does that leave us?” “I was unable to detect the use of an accelerant, so I can’t positively say it was arson. What I did find was a cigarette on the bed,

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which seems to have started the fire.” She waited for him to mention about the cough suppressant in their systems, but maybe that was a fact the police wouldn’t want to get out. “Was the fire deliberately set in your opinion?” She wanted him to state without a doubt that the Tanners had been murdered. “I’m unable to determine that at the moment.” Well, crap. “Thank you, Mr. McKee. This is Jessica McCallister for KRPT news.” Scott flipped off the camera and took back the microphone. “I’ll check with Walt and then get this up online.” She smiled at the best cameraman she’d ever had. “Thanks.” There wouldn’t be any balking from Walt. No corporate sponsor was involved in the Tanner case, thank God. “I’ll write something up as soon as I get back. Let’s hope Walt deems this newsworthy enough to put it on the 5:00 p.m. news.” Once the interview was over, the three of them went back into the café and sat down. Her coffee was cool to drink, and she needed it to wet her mouth. “Given your report, do you think the police department will investigate?” “You’ll have to ask them. I just dropped off my official report before coming here.” He was conservative in his opinion, but that probably made him a great arson investigator. She had to admire him. Even with him not committing, this story would make a nice follow-up to the first story. It sure beat curly versus straight fries. She really had thought Shane or Cody would be more into the murder theory, but they both seemed to be fact-based men. She liked that they didn’t jump to conclusions. It was a trait she needed to develop more. Cody placed his hand over hers, and her heart did that skittering thing it did when he was near. “So we’re on for the Labor Day festivities?” “You bet. Has it changed much? Is there still a parade down Main

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Street?” “That and more. There’ll be tons of vendors. I think the whole town closes down except for those merchants on the parade route.” “I can’t wait.” That was the truth. Getting the chance to spend time with these two would be the highlight of her return. After they finished their drinks, they went their separate ways. She was halfway to the office when the police chief called. At first she thought he was going to give her information on the Tanner case. “I’m calling about the bike thefts that occurred at the elementary school.” Her shoulders sagged, but she kept her gaze on the road. “What do you have?” “A teacher spotted a tall man slinking about the school yard last week. I went out there, got a description, and finally got a name. It’s one of the homeless men who wander around town. I picked him up and he admitted to taking the bikes and pawning them. If you want to come interview him, I have him in custody.” Not her most exciting crime, but it would be of interest to the parents of the elementary-school-aged kids. “I’ll be right over. Thanks.” It was always nice when the information came to her. Once she spoke with the homeless guy, she returned to the station, wrote up an article on the Tanner case, then did a quick story on the bike thefts. She caught the tail end of the 5:00 p.m. news. Shane came off looking really good. Not to mention hot. She bet the public would eat him up. She’d give the chief a few days to digest the arson report. Then she’d see if he planned on investigating the crime. Time to go home and enjoy Intrigue. She called her mom and made a date for her to come over Saturday night for dinner. Growing up, the two of them had been really close, but when she’d gone away to college then gotten the big job in Denver, she hadn’t visited as much as she would have liked. Now, she hoped to make up for lost time.

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**** Monday morning finally rolled around. While she enjoyed visiting with her mom, Jessie was a little disappointed not to have heard from either Cody or Shane. She figured there hadn’t been any more news, or one of them would have called. Both the woman and reporter in her were disappointed. Fortunately, she’d gotten the holiday weekend off. Even better was that she got to spend it with Shane and Cody. While both men excited her equally, they were definitely different men. Shane was the more serious of the two. The fact he’d kissed her in the park still surprised her. He hadn’t appeared nearly as interested as Cody, but then again, back in the days, Cody wanted only one thing from a woman. While she wasn’t shy about having sex, Jessie was looking for a guy, or in this case, guys, to settle down with. Too bad Cody didn’t seem like the type to stay with one woman for long. Her goal was to change his mind. Since the weather was in the low eighties, which was unseasonably warm for this time of year, she wore a tank top under a button-down shirt, shorts, and sandals. Dressing so casually was freeing. She hopped in her car and arrived at Cody’s right on time. He answered before she got to ring the bell. Instead of asking her in, he stepped outside, looking ready to go. He wore jeans and a T-shirt under a leather jacket. Two questions reached her brain at the same time. “Where’s Shane?” She wanted both men. “He had to take care of some business. He’ll be joining us when he can.” He tilted up her chin. “You’re not too disappointed that you get to spend time with just me, are you?” She laughed. “You don’t lack self-confidence, do you?” “Not usually.”

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“Aren’t you going to be hot in that jacket?” “It’s for safety.” She didn’t understand. He took hold of her arm and led her toward the garage. “You mind taking the bike? Traffic can be a bitch during these parades.” They were a good five miles from town. She’d be hot and sweaty by the time they arrived, but if he wanted to ride, that was okay by her. “Sure.” He clicked open the door and there stood a shiny, black motorcycle. Not what she thought he meant by bike. Her eyes must have widened, for he chuckled. “Did you think bicycle?” “Yeah.” “Sorry. I should have warned you to put on some jeans.” “I’ll be okay.” His lip curled partway into his mouth and his gaze scanned the length of her as if he was thinking if one of his pairs of jeans would fit her, or if they should ride back to her place. “We can go back to your house, and you can change.” She might be tempted to ask him in, and when she took too long to put on her jeans, he’d wander into the bedroom. He’d see the bed and ask if they could try it out. “I’m good. I’d be too hot in long pants.” “Okay, but watch that your leg doesn’t touch the bike. It can get hot and burn you.” “I’ll be careful.” She appreciated the fact he was so concerned about her welfare. He picked up a helmet and placed it on her head then snapped closed the chin strap. His fingers nearly burned her skin. She needed to stop reacting with every touch. Right. Like that was going to happen. He tapped the top. “Comfy?” She nodded. She’d never worn a full-face helmet before, and it

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was a bit claustrophobic, but she’d deal. He donned his helmet and slid onto the bike. It was now or never. She adjusted her backpack purse, lifted her leg, and slipped behind him. The best part about riding on a motorcycle with such a hunk was that she could wrap her arms around him and squeeze tight. The cycle jumped to life. “You good?” Oh! There was a speaker in the helmet. “Yes.” The ride to town was wonderful. While she’d lived here for the first eighteen years of her life, she didn’t remember the countryside looking this nice, or the ride this exhilarating. The traffic picked up halfway into town. Cody was right. Parking would have been difficult if he’d driven his truck. He parked behind the buildings on Second Street, which was parallel to Main. They had about an eight-block walk, which would allow her to spend more time with him. When they got into the mix, there were kids everywhere. The noise was quite loud, but the energy was wonderful. They passed a stand selling cotton candy. Without asking, he bought two sticks and handed her one. “I haven’t had one of these in forever.” The first bite seemed mostly like air and was almost too sweet. He opened his mouth and managed to stuff half of it in at one time. She laughed. “You got half of it on your face.” She leaned closer. “Let me.” Peeling the sticky goop off his cheek took some doing, especially with her hands shaking. Their lips were only inches from each other, and most of her body seemed to be transforming right before her. Her pussy was the first to wake up and take notice. “You aren’t so pristine yourself. You’ve got the candy stuck on your lip.” She licked her lips. “Did I get it?” She tilted her head for his inspection. He leaned closer, and his ocean-blue eyes lasered straight to her lips. “No. Here, let me help.” In that second, her heart stopped. He sucked on her bottom lip and

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her stomach somersaulted. She wanted to drag the rest of the cotton candy all over her body and have him lick it off. “There. All gone.” He leaned back and smiled. The line had been drawn. He wanted her, and she wanted him.

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Chapter Six Jessie had to force her mind on the activities instead of what just happened. Cody licking her lip might not have been a big deal to him, but it shook her to the core. Emotions long thought buried broke free. And that was from a half kiss! He tugged on her hand, acting like he was a teenager in love. From the way he was glancing at everything, he wanted to explore each new adventure. She was game to go along. The Labor Day parade consisted of homemade floats that were manned by a lot of drunken cowboys, the high school band, and random groups that had some theme going on. “I take it there is no committee who oversees who gets to be on the parade route?” He laughed. “The only requirement is that your group must be dedicated to having a good time.” “I like that.” Down one of the side streets sat carnival booths. A lot of the kids were swarming around each of the stands. One booth had bobblehead dolls that popped up and down at random intervals. The man running the booth explained something about having to shoot them down in order to win a prize. After the kid finished with his try, Cody stepped over to the man in charge. “How many do I have to shoot to win one of those prizes?” He nodded to the shelf full of dolls and stuffed animals. “You get three shots and have to hit down two bobbleheads. It’s two dollars a try.” He grinned and paid the man. “This is for you.” He winked at her, picked up the gun, and took aim.

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The concentration on his face surprised her. She expected him to joke around. Ping. He hit the first bobblehead. He glanced at her, smiled, and straightened his shoulders. The second shot missed. He spread his legs wider, but she refused to think about whether the new position put pressure on his cock or not. “I’m going to get the next one.” For me? Ping. He hit the third one, and she jumped up and down. He gave her a quick hug. “So what do you want?” You? “Oh, you mean what prize?” She knew he couldn’t read minds, but he had an uncanny ability to read faces. The man in charge pointed to the section of prizes she could choose from. There was a pink flamingo dressed in a cowgirl outfit. “I’ll take the pink cowgirl.” The owner handed her the doll. She faced Cody, leaned up, and kissed him on the cheek. “As a kid, my mother could never afford to buy me such things.” She hugged the doll to her chest then put it in her purse. “I’ll treasure this. Thank you.” At twenty-nine, she shouldn’t be so excited to have a doll, but since Cody won it for her, she’d give it to her little girl someday. “You need someone to keep your new friend company. Give it a try.” He was sweet. “Me? I can’t shoot.” “I’ll help.” If it involved having his hands around her body, she would give it a go. “Okay.” Cody grasped her shoulders and placed her in front of the stand. He paid another two dollars and handed her the rifle. He leaned over and stood cheek to cheek, sending her pulse into the red zone. His right hand slipped over hers. She lifted the gun and let him guide her. When his chest flattened against her back, she had a hard time breathing. “Relax, and keep your eye on the bobblehead. Try to judge when

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it’s going to pop up, aim, and shoot.” Sounded easy enough, but with his large frame wrapped around her, her mind couldn’t focus that long. Her breath remained too erratic and her hands wouldn’t stop shaking. She didn’t have a chance of hitting anything. He gripped his forefinger over hers, as if he intended to pull the trigger. She took aim, waiting for the doll to pop up and pressed the trigger. “Damn, I missed.” She was way too late. “You get two more tries. Concentrate.” The dolls seemed to come up every two or three seconds. She swung the rifle and shot. Ping. “I did it.” Cody stepped away, and her enthusiasm dissipated a bit. “It’s all you now.” It was more fun when they both went together. Concentrate. Okay. She could do this. Looking at the doll, she held her breath, waited, then pulled the trigger. “Aww, I missed.” She put the rifle down, and he turned her around. “You did great.” He leaned over and kissed her forehead. That wasn’t the location she was hoping for. He grabbed her hand. “Come on. I saw something that might be really cool.” She couldn’t remember the last time she was so carefree, not worrying about getting the next great story. “You haven’t heard from Shane yet, have you?” Cody said Shane would be joining them, and they’d been there over an hour. He pulled out his phone. “I forgot to check.” He scrolled down. “Shane texted that he was running late.” “Okay.” She hoped he wasn’t staying away because he didn’t want to be with her. In truth, having Cody all to herself had made the day very special. Hand in hand, they wove their way through the crowds. How he located the skydiving site she didn’t know. Maybe it was from the roar of the engine shooting air up through a grate.

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“What is this?” She had to shout over the noise. The configuration fascinated her. Two men were floating on an airshaft with their arms spread wide. One was only five feet above the ground. Two of the workers were holding on to him as if they were afraid he’d float away from the air and fall. The other man must have been twenty feet in the air. From the grin on his face, he was having the time of his life. Cody leaned over. “That looks like fun, doesn’t it?” “Yes.” She was intrigued, even though she had no desire to jump out of a plane. “You want to give it a try?” Her pulse shot up. “Really?” Spending money on something so frivolous went against everything she was taught. “How much is it?” While she was making more than she’d ever dreamed, she still had to watch what she spent. “My treat.” She wanted to argue, but her mother taught her to accept gifts graciously. “Thanks. I owe you one.” He winked and purchased two tickets. Getting into the skydiving outfits took some doing, but Cody helped her tug and pull until the suit was on straight. Then the workers made sure her equipment was secure. Since Cody had done this before, the workers let Cody hold on to her. She was pleased she’d get to go higher with him and experience something new right alongside him. “Don’t let go of my hand. It’s tricky to learn to balance.” He held her gaze until she agreed. “Have you ever done real skydiving?” He grinned and straightened his shoulders. “Many times.” Wow. What couldn’t this man do? They both stood over the grate and the engine kicked into high gear. “Oh, my.” Her whole body lifted. If it hadn’t been for Cody holding on, she

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wouldn’t have known how to stay afloat. He kicked his legs backward and she followed his lead. Blood slammed through her body so fast she thought her heart would jump out of her skin. Never had she experienced anything so heady. Cody smiled and her pulse slowed. He mouthed, “Hold on tight.” He probably said those words, but she couldn’t hear anything over the blast of the engines. Trembling, she squeezed tight. They were floating and flying. “This is sooooo cool.” He probably couldn’t hear her either, but he undoubtedly could see the big grin on her face. He twisted them around and let her move her arm around to experience the sensation of being almost weightless. Cody maneuvered onto his back. Still holding her, he moved underneath and blocked her air. The lack of draft made her body drop onto his. “Oh.” Every part of her was touching him, and her mind went wild. They were helmet to helmet. He grinned, dropped his feet, and moved away from her. Once she caught the draft, she floated up again. She never imagined this could be so exhilarating. Just as she was figuring out how to balance and move, the air lessened, and they floated back down. Her whole body vibrated. She could have stayed up there for hours. Being almost weightless in a safe environment was the coolest sensation ever. Cody undressed quickly and had to help her take off her suit because her fingers were shaking. The men running the site guided her off the grate. The whole time she’d been in the air, the world seemed to have stood still. Cody wrapped an arm around her waist. “You liked that?” “It was amazing.” Her heart rate had yet to come down to normal. Instead of walking her back to the main street, they exited in the opposite direction toward the alley. The quiet was a nice change. “I’m glad you had a good time. I did, too.” He dropped his back against the brick wall and swung her in front of him. “In fact, I loved everything about today.”

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Her heart soared. “I did, too.” His gaze never left her face as he pulled her body against his. She melted into him, chest against chest. With his arms wrapped around her, he leaned over and kissed her for real this time. Fireworks shot off inside her body. Her lips tingled, and her pussy gushed. She’d dreamed years ago about what it would be like to have Cody Callen in her arms, but being here surpassed all her expectations. Never did she expect his lips to be this soft and kissable. He dragged his mouth down her neck and at the same time rotated her around so that her back was to the brick wall. He slipped her backpack to the ground and warm air whipped around them. The cheers and yells from the crowd rumbled faintly in the background. It was as if only the two of them existed, floating high above the world. He unbuttoned her shirt and pulled the tank top she had underneath it from the waistband of her shorts. She threaded her hands through his hair, wanting to know what the bristle felt like on her palms. His hair was soft but thick. She could spend hours examining his perfect body. “I want you.” His strangled cry turned her insides to mush. “I want that, too.” They were outside where the entire town was congregated a mere street away. Every common-sense bone in her body told her to pull away, but she did no such thing. This was her dream, and she was going to grab it now that she had the chance. She wasn’t sure how far she wanted to take this right now, but the rush from the simulated skydiving experience had jacked up her adrenaline so much that she wanted more thrills, more excitement. He slipped a hand under her shirt and cupped her breast. Now she wished she hadn’t worn a bra. To have his fingers on her body would be such a high. As if he read her mind, he slipped his hand behind her back and pinched the material together to unhook her bra. The anticipation of his hand on her breast made her pussy wetter. Cody’s lids lowered, and his lips softened as if he were in some sexual haze. In a flash, he lifted her shirt and bra, exposing her tits to

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the air. “You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to taste you.” He sampled her lips first before lowering his target to her tits. She expected him to gently suck. Instead, he dragged her nipple between his teeth and tugged. The exquisite pain turned into such strong, carnal lust that she lost her mind. Desperate to have him, she latched onto his belt and unhooked it. Next came the button and finally the zipper. He grabbed her hand. “Don’t go too fast. I want to savor this moment forever.” Could he get to her soul any faster? He knew what to touch and what to say. With her whole heart, she wanted to believe he meant every word. Instead of grabbing his cock, as was her intention, she ran her hands under his T-shirt. His rippled abs sent her heart soaring. His body molded under her fingers, and when she squeezed his muscled pecs, her pussy walls sure took off, sending out one contraction after another. This wasn’t supposed to happen so soon, but Cody was everything she’d ever wanted. For some reason, she wasn’t allowed to take off his pants, but he was taking no time divesting her of her shorts. She let them pool around her ankles, and her body ached for him. When his finger dipped into her pussy, she nearly caved. She had to have more contact. She pulled down his head to reach her lips. She kissed him hard and demanded entrance by running her tongue along the seam of his lips. He pressed his chest to hers. One hand cupped the back of her neck as his tongue greeted hers. His other hand continued to wreak havoc with her clit. When he slipped in a second finger, her eyes almost rolled back in her head. Spikes of lust blasted her. She couldn’t get enough of him. Their tongues mated. He swept into her mouth and explored her depths. Needing to feel his hard cock, she wove her hand between them

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and slipped her fingers down his pants. Leave it to Cody to wear cotton briefs. Once her hand touched his hard, throbbing dick, her legs weakened. His hand slipped from her neck to her waist as if he could sense her legs were about to give way. “What you do to me, Jessie McCallister. You make me lose my mind.” They both were lost then. She squeezed harder and so wanted to suck on his cock, but at the moment her mouth was preoccupied with his lips and tongue. He gently bit down on her bottom lip and moved his kisses lower. The stimulation was driving her mad. She wanted to get naked and fuck him silly, but they were outside. If anyone caught them, she might lose her job. As if reason washed down on her, she pulled back. “I can’t.” Cody withdrew his fingers. “You’re right. I don’t know what I was thinking. All I know is that I had to have you. I’m sorry.” “Don’t be. I wanted you just as much.” “I doubt that.” He reached around and rehooked her bra then buttoned up her shirt. If anyone walked around the corner, it would only be the shorts around her ankles that would draw the attention. She scooted to the side and pulled up her pants. All Cody had to do was zipper up. He kept his gaze on her. “I’ve had enough of the crowds for the day. You want to head back to my place?” She understood the invitation. Every part of her screamed yes. “Sure.” They hustled five more blocks back to his bike. He handed her the helmet as he donned his. After he got on the bike and started it, she climbed on board. This time she wrapped her arms tightly around his back and let her imagination go wild. Her pussy and nipples were still demanding attention. She barely noticed the drive back. Her thoughts were too preoccupied to think about anything but Cody and what she wanted to

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do with him when she got him in bed. He slowed the bike and pulled off the road. She leaned back. “What’s going on?” He stopped the bike and held up a hand. She could hear muffled voices. He tapped his helmet. He must have been on the phone. Then his voice came through her helmet loud and clear. “There’s been another fire. Because of the festivities downtown, the department is shorthanded. They called Shane to the scene.” Shane would be sent in to put out the fire. “Oh, God. Is he hurt?”

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Chapter Seven Jessie held her breath, praying the phone call wasn’t terrible news. “No. I could barely hear him, though, over the roar of the fire. Are you okay with going?” He really didn’t need to ask, despite both knowing what they’d be giving up. “Absolutely.” Cody turned the bike around and headed back toward town. A half mile down the road, he turned right down a well-packed dirt road. Even with the full-face helmet, the sweet smell of fire reached her. When they got there, another farmhouse was ablaze, and her heart sank. The fire truck was pumping water, and a few firemen were wielding the hoses, but she couldn’t tell if Shane was inside or out. This is news. She put on her reporter hat and took out her iPhone. Cody got out and came to her side. “Don’t get too close.” “I need to see if someone can talk to me.” She waved the phone. He pulled out his, too. “Good idea, but don’t get any closer to the fire than I do. If the building collapses, sparks can shoot out far.” He stopped and tilted up her chin. “I don’t want you hurt. Ever.” “That goes for you, also.” This man was too sweet. They weren’t competitors per se, but she didn’t want anyone to get the scoop before she did. As soon as Cody went in search of Shane, she quickly called Scott to see if he could come over and film it. While her iPhone did a nice job, having her cameraman around made the reporting job easier. “I can be there in twenty,” Scott said. That wasn’t ideal, but it was better than nothing. She gave him the

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directions and disconnected. Cody was speaking with a fireman, and she headed in that direction. On her way, she pointed the camera to the fire. A beam fell, sending sparks everywhere. She jerked back, fearing she might get burnt. Turning the phone toward her, she gave her usual introduction. Without saying anything, she sidled next to Cody. The man he was talking to was about sixty. He, too, was dressed in a fireman’s suit. His face was sweaty and streaked with black soot. Cody introduced her to Travis Carmichael, the second-incommand. “What can you tell us about the fire?” she asked, pointing the camera at him. “Neighbor called it in. So far, we don’t think anyone was at home. We’ve called Mr. Shepley at work. There is no Mrs. Shepley.” She adjusted the phone higher to make sure to capture his face. “Do you know how the fire started?” “Not yet, but Shane McKee will be investigating.” He looked over his shoulder. “In fact, there he is now.” Shane was near the fire engine. “Thank you, Mr. Carmichael.” She was about to go over to Shane, when Cody stopped her. “Let’s let him do his job. He’ll come over when he can.” That made sense. In the meantime, she could film the blaze and the surrounding area. Her heart ached for these people. “I don’t remember Intrigue having so many fires.” Two fires might not constitute a lot, but two in such a short span seemed coincidental. “We don’t, and that’s what has me worried.” “Do you think this is connected to the Tanner fire?” “I wish I knew, but I don’t. I’m hoping Shane can tell us.” There was nothing they could do but watch as the firemen doused the house. Scott pulled up fifteen minutes later and raced out of the van. “What do you need me to shoot?” She’d probably gotten all she could. “We’re waiting for the men

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to finish before I can interview one of them.” “I’m used to waiting.” She smiled. Her best bet was to stick close to Cody. He knew everyone in town. Cody touched her hand. “If the neighbor called it in, I want to speak to him.” “I want to come along.” Gone was the flirtatious man she’d practically had sex with not a half hour ago. In his place was someone worthy of running a town newspaper. She was happy he wasn’t trying to distract her. She needed to keep her focus. Scott tagged along. Unfortunately, the neighbor saw nothing other than the smoke. Even though her stomach grumbled, she wasn’t going to ask Cody to take her some place to get a bite to eat. He’d stay here until Shane finished his preliminary arson report. That would require the fire to be doused and the boards to cool. It was going to be a long night. Scott had waited patiently, but after they interviewed the neighbor, there was no need for him to waste his time. “You got a laptop in the van?” “Sure.” “I’ll write up the story and send my phone images to you. That way you can get out of here. At least we can put this online. Hopefully, Walt will air this on the 5:00 news.” If that was to happen, she needed to write the story quickly. After telling Cody her plan, she ducked into the van. Scott got his laptop booted up. Jessie got right to work. There wasn’t much news with the story, so she kept it short and sweet. Mr. Shepley had lost his wife last year, and now he’d lost his house. She played up the humaninterest angle, but she didn’t suggest there was a connection to the Tanner case. She stuck to the facts. She e-mailed her footage to the station, too. “You’re all set.” Scott gave her a thumbs-up. “I’ll see that this goes live for you.”

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“Thanks.” She hopped out and found Cody. He tossed her a half smile as if the reality of the event had settled in his bones. “Hey. Everything set?” She wasn’t quite sure what he meant. “I sent in what I had of the story.” “Shane won’t be done for a while. You want to grab a bite to eat then come back?” She almost kissed him right there. “That would be fabulous.” They couldn’t go toward town as the parade was still going strong. “Why not come to my place? I have some leftover pizza and can whip up some spaghetti if that suits you. I have a six-pack, too.” His chuckle boosted her spirits. “Say pizza, spaghetti, and beer in the same sentence, and every man will be at your feet.” Really? “I’ll have to remember that.” As long as she didn’t lie or hide evidence, she’d be good. Roger that. After speaking with Shane, they got on Cody’s motorcycle and headed back to her house. The pizza looked a little wilted. “How about if I whip up some spaghetti instead?” “Sure.” She was hot, sweaty, and smelly. If they were going to kiss, she didn’t want to offend him. “Mind if I take a shower while the water boils?” “Go ahead. I’ll watch the pot.” Not wanting him to have to do anything other than keep an eye on the water, she raced to the bathroom and turned on the shower. Once she stripped, she stepped into the warmed enclosure. The water felt divine on her sticky body. She sniffed her hair. Since it smelled like smoke, she dunked her head under the water. No sooner had she poured shampoo on her head than the bathroom door opened. The shower curtain fluttered inward. “Cody?” “You expecting someone else?” There was that chuckle in his voice again. She knew it had to be him, but she just hadn’t expected him to come in. “I’m naked.” He

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could take her comment any way he chose. He pulled open the curtain and stepped in. Her ability to say anything disappeared. Before her was the most magnificent human specimen she’d ever seen. To her surprise, he had what looked like a tattoo of barbed wire around his bicep. She dared her gaze to go lower. Christ. Not only were his abs as wonderful as they felt, but his cock was divinely long and thick. Did she mention it was standing at attention? “You can touch it if you want.” His voice caught, as if he, too, were enjoying the view. “Oooh. I’d like that.” By now, he’d gotten an eyeful of her naked body. There was no need to cover herself. He’d touched and suckled her breasts and knew her pussy was waxed bare. He clasped her waist and spun her to the opposite end of the shower. “My turn.” That wasn’t fair. He said she could touch him. He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment and stood under the streaming water. She couldn’t take her gaze away from his magnificence. The watery rivulets cascaded down his muscles, accentuating each cut and plane of his luscious body. His slim hips rippled with power. She loved how his thighs flexed with every shift in his weight. And then there was his cock. He leaned his head forward. “You ready to rinse?” She was so involved in enjoying the view that it took her a moment for the words to register. “Yes.” Should she touch him now or wait until the soap wasn’t stinging her eyes? “What’s wrong? You never shower with a guy before?” No. Had she been staring that much? “That’s none of your business.” She straightened her shoulders, but she had to wipe the soap that dripped onto her forehead. He smiled. “Here. Let me help.” He removed the handheld

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showerhead from the wall. “Bend over.” She wasn’t so sure about this, but the shampoo was close to getting in her eyes. She dropped her head and realized her mistake. His cock was inches from her mouth. She let him hold the water over her head, but when his fingers rubbed her scalp, her heart nearly jumped out of her body. Needing to take the upper hand in this seduction, she grabbed his cock. It twitched, and she nearly let go. Cody wrapped a hand around her wrist and moved her hand up and down. “Nice and easy. That’s it.” She didn’t need a damned tutorial, but in truth, her body had frozen from the hard-core lust racing through her. Had the water not been running over her head, she would have lifted up and told him she wasn’t a virgin, nor was she inexperienced at giving a hand job. A bit pissed he’d assumed she didn’t date much, she cupped his sac with her other hand and lowered her mouth over his cock. Even over the running water, she heard him gasp. That’s right. Mr. Cody Callen actually gasped when her tongue touched his throbbing member. Take that. Lightly dragging her teeth over the head of his cock, she continued to pump him up and down. He tasted divine, and she loved how the head of his cock flexed under her pressure. The water moved to the side, and his hand left hers. He lifted her chin. “While we may be in the shower where I won’t make a mess, I want to explore you before I go off like a firecracker.” “Do you have trouble controlling yourself?” She loved throwing back a retort at him. He laughed. “Only with you.” Her heart stopped again. His sincerity shook her to the core. Surely he was just saying that, but for the moment, she chose to believe him. He moved closer. “I think I need to get you clean.” Once more, the sexual haze descended on her. For a moment, she pictured having his hands roam all over her body. Her pussy gushed

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before he’d even touched her. She reached behind him, picked up the liquid soap, and handed it to him. “Go for it.” She almost shivered thinking about what was to come. He dripped the liquid onto his palm then dragged his fingers over one nipple then the other. The tips puckered, and sparks of lust filled her. Her breaths increased as he rubbed her swollen crests with both hands. Cody stepped closer and dragged his hands down her belly. Please don’t stop. Go lower. He rubbed her stomach then rinsed her. Why did he have to be so determined to get her clean? Wasn’t he here to have sex with her? She held out her hand. “I need some soap to wash you.” Cody cocked a brow, but he did as she asked. That was his first mistake. She rubbed her hands together and ran her palms down his chest, soaping up his muscled chest. She thought her breath had sped up when he touched her, but when her fingers caressed his body, she could barely breathe. He didn’t seem content to stand there. He dipped his fingers into her pussy, and she jumped. “Gotta get you clean everywhere.” He most certainly did. “I bet your cock is dirty, too.” She didn’t wait for him to answer and grabbed his dick. The slippery liquid made rubbing her hand up and down a lot easier. His lips descended on hers. He removed his fingers from between her legs and threaded them through her wet hair. “I want to taste all of you. Let’s take this someplace else.” His voice came out breathy. “Yes.” Even saying one word took effort. She rinsed him quickly then turned off the shower. He held open the curtain, and she stepped out. He whipped two towels off the rack, tossed her one, and moved closer. “Dry your hair. I get the body.” She giggled. It was difficult enough when he touched her in the shower. She could only imagine what he would do with a towel. So that he didn’t get cold, she wrapped her head and took a third towel off the bar. As he dried her, she wanted to dry him, also.

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She licked her lips. “I’d use my tongue, but that would take too long, and we do need to get back to the fire at some point.” “Yeah. And eat.” “Yeah.” She prayed he was talking about eating her pussy because she certainly wanted to taste more of him. He dragged the towel between her legs, and her pussy caught on fire. She ran the towel over his shoulders and down the front of his body. She patted dry his arms but then stopped because the erotic sensations coursing through her took her mind away from everything. He tapped her nipples. “I love these.” “I love yours.” “Great pussy.” “Great cock.” They both burst out laughing then fell into each other’s arms. The kissing turned intense. He walked backward, pulling her out of the bathroom. Their backs were wet as were much of their legs, but she certainly didn’t care. Since he didn’t have a clue where her bedroom was, she angled him down the hall and through the door. The bed was made, and fortunately, she’d picked up her clothes off the floor. Just as he reached the bed, she pushed him down. His feet remained on the floor, with his back on the comforter. Perfect. She straddled him. Her pussy rubbed against his cock, and sirens went off in her brain. Was she ready to do this? You bet. She didn’t care if the fire alarm sounded right now. She was going to have him. He reached up and lightly pinched her nipples. They were already slightly swollen from all the massaging in the shower. Each pull and twist made the exquisite pain more erotic. She lowered her body and dragged her pussy along his hard cock. Her clit nearly burst with joy. Whatever happened tonight, she’d remember for the rest of her life. Perhaps she’d stilled, but in a second, he lowered her to the bed and rolled her to her side as he pushed up on one elbow. He raised her top leg to expose her pussy then bent her knee to help support the leg.

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Right in front of her was his cock aimed directly at her entrance. The thought of having sex with him sent deliciously wicked flames up her body, consuming all her thoughts. Her gaze latched onto his cock. “Hello, there.” That might have been uncalled for, but to get to suck on him again was more than she could hope for. “I’ve been dreaming of eating your pussy since the moment I saw you back in Intrigue.” “Oh, yeah?” He flipped his body around so that his head was at her pussy and his cock right in line with her mouth. This couldn’t get any better. His first lick confirmed he might have been telling the truth about having dreamed about her. Actually, it was the moan that followed that bolstered her confidence. She went to work on him. His large cock wiggled, and she took hold and squeezed. Her tongue was halfway down his cock when he drew her clit into his mouth. Her juices must have been spewing because she could smell her scent in the air. Knowing she was in bed with one of the hottest men in Wyoming almost made her faint. She drew her tongue upward and cupped his hard sac. The vein down his length popped out. Torturing him was going to be so much fun. “Be careful what we wish for, young lady. Go too fast and you might not get any.” She let up on the pressure. “I don’t want that. I mean I do want that, so I won’t do that.” She giggled. God, when was the last time she’d actually giggled? She never got the response to that comment because he dipped a finger into her pussy and immediately groaned. “You are so fucking tight. I can’t imagine how my cock can fit in you.” A spasm contracted her walls. “I’ll make it happen.” “I’ll help.” He rubbed her clit until an unbearable wave of need slammed into her.

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“I want you.” Maybe she shouldn’t have sounded so desperate, but it was the truth. “Be patient.” Patient, hell. She swung her leg on top of him, making him roll onto his back. Now she’d have better access to his cock. With her pussy directly over his mouth, she’d be totally exposed to him, too. Opening her mouth wide, she slid his cock into her mouth and ran her tongue around the base of the head. “Mmm.” He dipped in a finger and then added his tongue to the mix. How was she supposed to concentrate with barrages of thrilling passion washing over her? Wanting to reciprocate, she tightened her lips and slid her lips down his pulsating cock. When she took hold of his sac, he jerked. He flipped her on her back and slid his legs halfway off the bed. He rolled onto his stomach. “I’m weak. I admit it. Ask any of the women I’ve been with and she’ll say I have the stamina of ten men. With you I have none.” His lids lowered and he went back to pleasuring her. His ego-boosting statement made her soar. A low groan emanated from his chest as he licked and sucked on her weeping cunt. She reached down and grabbed hold of his shoulders that were flexing with each flick of his tongue. She didn’t think she could last much longer. Fire ate her up, and the heated fever of need took over. She arched her back and bucked with every thrust. When he crooked his finger and hit her most sensitive spot, her resolve gave way. Wave upon wave of chaotic thrill washed over her. Her climax rocked her. She kept on massaging his shoulders as she slowly recovered from his assault. He looked up and smiled. “You ready for round two?”

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Chapter Eight “Get on your hands and knees.” Cody was nearly shaking from eating Jessie’s sweet pussy. She was more responsive than anyone he’d been with. “What are you going to do?” From the tentative way she asked, she might have been worried he was going to come in her ass. While he would enjoy the experience, he was going to leave her first time to Shane. “Just make fabulous love to you, if that’s what you want. I love your pussy.” Her back arched as if she’d blown out a breath. “Okay.” For the sake of the potential ménage, he had to ask. “Have you ever had anyone fuck you in the ass?” He hoped his dirty talk turned her on. “No. You asking?” There was the challenging woman he knew. “Shane loves your ass.” She wiggled her butt. “But he’s not here.” “No, he’s not. Right now, my focus is on your sweet pussy.” He threaded three fingers into her sopping wet cunt and got the reaction he was looking for. She clamped down on his fingers, and he knew the ride would be something he’d always remember. Jessie McCallister was a dangerous woman. He could lose his heart to someone like her. Her honey perfumed the air, and his cock tightened so hard, it ached. “I need you now.” His voice cracked, almost embarrassing him. From the jeans he’d left on the floor, he extracted a condom. If he asked her, he bet Jessie would want to put it on him, but if her fingers even grazed his skin, he might lose it. As quickly as he could, he

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donned the condom and snapped it down his length. On his knees, he moved behind her and caressed her beautiful ass. Her soft skin, layered with the finest hair, was silk against his callused hands. He pressed her ass with his thumbs then dragged his fingers lower until they both slid into her moist, warm cunt. “I need you.” His strangled cry sounded odd to his ears. “I want you ready and willing.” “If I get any more wet, I’ll be dripping. Please, Cody. Fuck me.” “I’m close.” She sucked in an audible breath. Using his thumbs, he traced circles inside her pussy lips. She wiggled her butt, and she perfumed the air. His cock flared, demanding release. When the pain of his erection reached epic proportions, he guided his dick into her pussy. “Oh, yeah.” Her moans and groans gave him immense satisfaction, but he didn’t want to go too fast. Given how much she’d worked, he didn’t think she’d had sex in a while. He didn’t want her too sore for when he and Shane took her the next time. Holding her ass cheeks apart, he edged in another inch. She tensed, as if she’d never had anyone his size. “Breathe, sugar. Breathe.” Her chest expanded, and he slid in some more. He had to squeeze his eyes shut not to come. He reached around her and fondled her precious tits. “They fit so nicely in my hands. They’re perfect in every way.” “Touch them harder.” She must have wanted the pain, because pain was the key to ecstasy. He pulled on the tips and she groaned. As she expanded her chest to get more, he threaded his cock in close to the end of her moist channel. She milked him, and he had to bite his lip to keep from coming. “Let me do all the work, sugar. I’m about to explode.” “I need it faster.” That was the last thing he needed if he wanted to fuck her long

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and hard. Slowly, he increased his pace, but she kept driving her ass backward. When his balls slapped against her pussy, he nearly came. To keep his mind clear, he reached under her belly and ran a thumb across her clit. As soon as he brought her to climax, the sooner he could let loose. His thumb scraped against the hood of her clit. He pressed on it, and she nearly screamed his name. “Oh, Cody. I’m going to come.” Her breaths came out in small pants. “Yes. Explode for me. Let go.” His thrusts increased, and he returned his fingers to her breasts. He let them mold into his hand. As he plucked the swollen tips, her moans got louder and louder. Adrenaline mixed with testosterone built in his balls, ready for the release. She pulled forward then slammed her ass against him. His balls exploded at the same time she screamed. Her creamy cunt let him slide in and out with ease. He kept pounding until every drop of his liquid love was exhausted. “Oh, God. Oh, God,” she said between breaths. He had nothing left. He withdrew and lowered the both of them to the bed. Careful not to squish her, he rolled onto his back, taking her with him. Her long hair lay in a heap across his chest. “That was amazing.” She patted his shoulder. “Uh-huh.” He must have waited five minutes before he slid out from under her. He wet a washcloth and returned to wipe both Jessie and himself down. He never knew lovemaking could be so wonderful. The only negative was that Shane hadn’t been there to enjoy it all. He slid next to her and propped himself up on his elbow. Her perky nipple was standing at attention, and he had to touch her. “Did I say you had the most perfect tits in the world?” She swatted his hand away. “You’ll get me excited all over again.”

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That was his plan. While he had her this vulnerable, he wanted to ask the question that had bothered him for years. “Why didn’t you go out with me in high school? I mean, no one but you ever turned me down.” She rolled onto her side. “You are conceited, aren’t you?” “No, well, maybe a bit, but tell me. Didn’t you like me at all?” Having one girl turn him down shouldn’t have bothered him, and it wouldn’t have, except it was Jessie. “I liked you all right. Didn’t you notice how I just happened to be in the hallway every time your class was getting out?” “Not really.” Maybe he was more of a jerk than he thought. “Did you ever question why I transferred into your physics class a few days into the semester? Did I seem like the type to take science?” He did seem to recall he was surprised to see her there. “Maybe, but you did okay.” “That’s because I had Karen Langford tutor me every day after school. I didn’t want you to think I was stupid.” “Aww. You suffered through Mr. Williams’s class for me?” He leaned over and kissed her. Something wasn’t right. “If you were so hot for me, why did you turn me down?” She rolled onto her back, acting like being face-to-face would be too difficult. “It’s hard to explain. I wanted you, but I knew I never could have you. I was poor and you were rich. We came from two different worlds.” “There were times when I wished I hadn’t been handed everything.” She looked at him. “No one is willing to give up wealth. Besides, you had a loving family. I knew Sam pretty well, and she seemed happy.” “Being the second oldest was hard. Dustin, the oldest, was the golden child. Dad was hard on me and a bit unforgiving at times.” She ran a tender hand down his arm. God, had he really told her that? “Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t trade anyone in my family for the

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world, but it wasn’t always the bed of roses everyone thinks it was. You were an only child. I bet you had your mom’s undivided attention.” “When she wasn’t working, she focused on me. That’s true.” “I had six other kids to compete against.” He was in bed with the hottest woman, and here he was complaining. “Enough of the pity talk.” While he hated to bring up anything practical in this perfect environment, duty did call. “In case you forgot, we need to chow down something then find Shane. I bet he texted me.” She sat up and shot her gaze to the direction of the kitchen. “The water! I bet it’s boiled down to nothing.” “Don’t worry. I turned off the stove.” “Thank goodness.” They both got dressed and somehow managed to get into the kitchen. In companionable silence, they boiled the water, cooked the spaghetti, and made a salad. While the meal wasn’t fancy, he enjoyed working with Jessie. Shane called as they were sitting down to dinner. “Yeah? You finished with the investigation?” “Just about, but the lab called about something the cops found in the ashes at the Tanner house. It’s big.” “We can be there in twenty minutes. We’ll bring you dinner. Okay?” “Perfect.” He hung up. Jessie hadn’t moved a muscle. “Shane has news, but he wouldn’t tell me what it was. Finish eating.” “He didn’t give you a hint?” There was almost pain in her voice. She was like a kid at Christmas who wanted to know what was under the tree. “No.” They both scarfed down their food. While she put the dishes in the sink, he found a Tupperware dish and placed the leftovers inside for

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Shane. “Why don’t I follow you to the crime scene?” Since she had to be at work the next day, it might make things easier when they headed home. Too bad she couldn’t spend the night at his place. He would love to explore more of her luscious body. “Sure.” She grabbed her coat, and they were on their way to find out about this new secret. **** When they both arrived at the burned-out farmhouse, it was getting dark. All the fire trucks had gone, but a smattering of cops was searching through the rubble. The wood must have cooled sufficiently if they were walking on it. They found Shane sitting in his truck with the overhead light on. “Hey.” Cody leaned an arm over the edge of the door. “What did you find?” “Just a sec.” Shane finished writing something. “I got a call about the Tanner case. The cops found a cell phone registered to Rhonda. There was a message on it.” Jessie edged her way in. She needed to hear the information. “What did it say?” “It took some pretty sophisticated equipment to get the information off the chip, as it was damaged, but the message said, Tell and you die.” Cody looked at her then turned back to Shane. “Do they know who sent the text?” “Yes, but I’d rather not discuss it here. I need to go home and shower.” Judging by his bloodshot eyes, poor Shane was exhausted. “I have dinner for you.” She handed him the spaghetti and the salad container. He smiled, probably for the first time today. “I can really use

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this.” Cody tapped the top of the truck. “We’ll meet you at home.” “I’ll be right there.” While she wasn’t happy he didn’t say more, she understood his unwillingness to discuss anything in the presence of others. Getting to spend a few more hours with them both was a huge bonus. “Follow me, okay?” She knew the way, but she didn’t mind staying close behind. “Sure.” When they rolled into Cody’s house, Shane pulled up behind them. He was a little ripe from having fought the fire, but that almost made him more appealing. He had a hard day, and she wanted to soothe him somehow. “How about I shower and you heat up my dinner?” He smiled, but it looked like even that motion took effort. “Sure.” She was tempted to glance at Cody to see if he thought jumping in the shower with Shane would be a good idea, but she decided to leave the poor man alone. Cody slipped the meal from her fingers. “I’ll heat up the spaghetti.” She’d put the salad in a separate container. “Good idea. Got any wine?” While she should keep her head clear, after the exhilarating day she’d had, she’d never sleep unless she relaxed. “Sure.” “Do you mind if I pull out my laptop and send my material to the station?” “Not at all. In fact, I’ll join you.” A wonderful sense of belonging descended on her. This is what she’d dreamed of. Being at home with these two men while all of them worked on their careers. She finished her short story, but before she turned it in, she wanted to pass it by Cody. “Can I read this to you to see if I missed anything?”

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“Go for it.” Her story was all of two paragraphs and basically stated that a neighbor called in the Shepley house fire. Mr. Shepley couldn’t be reached for a comment. According to his daughter in Arizona, he was driving to visit her and never turned on his phone. “What do you have?” “Pretty much the same thing. I’m hoping Shane can add a few additional comments.” “About what?” Shane said as he walked into the living room in only jeans. He was rubbing his hair dry with a towel. Her eyes stayed glued to his chest. The man was quite beautiful. He had two tattoos, one to the right of his happy trail and the other on his shoulder. Both were symbols of some sort, though if she had to guess, they both resembled flames. “We, ah, were wondering if you knew what started the fire at the Shepley place.” “Someone used an accelerant. Place didn’t stand a chance.” Cody leaned forward. “I’m guessing you don’t think the two fires are connected because the method of starting the fires is different.” “When do I ever guess?” She wanted to know his opinion. “Off the record, if you had to hazard a guess, could this fire and the Tanner fire be related?” “Don’t know. Normally, I would say no, but I’m thinking, or maybe even hoping, that if the Tanners were murdered, that the murderer is trying to cover up his tracks by setting other fires. The cops will be looking for a serial arsonist and not focus on the murder.” She leaned back in her seat. “I like that theory.” Shane plopped down just as Cody got up and headed into the kitchen. He exited a moment later with Shane’s dinner. He placed it in front of him. “Beer?” “Yeah. That would be great.” Cody had brought in a soda and a beer. He handed the beer to Shane and popped open the top of the soda for himself. While Shane

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was busy scarfing down his meal, she wanted to ask Cody about Samantha. “As I was going through the police reports, I came across Sam’s case. I saw she was shot.” Cody’s gaze looked downward for a moment. “Yeah. I was scared to death.” He gave her some more details about the shooting. “How is she doing now?” He grinned. “You won’t believe it. She married the Watson brothers, Heath and Wade.” Those two had gone to school with them. “No shit. That’s awesome.” “The best part is that my sister actually looks like a real woman now.” In high school, Sam hadn’t gone all out in the girl department. “Is she happy?” “Incredibly so. She was running her own ranch, but after the rustling, she decided to turn it into what I would call a dude ranch. People from all over come and learn about riding, roping, and living the cowboy life for a few days to a few weeks. She has mostly women running the place.” “That’s so cool.” “The best part is that she is really happy. She has everything just the way she likes it.” Shane put his plate down. “That was good. Thanks.” Cody picked up the dish and brought it back into the kitchen. She never expected him to be such a neat freak. If there were nine people in his house, maybe he’d been trained well. He came back and sat. “So tell us who sent Rhonda the message, Tell and you die?” “It came from Harman Security.” Her heart dropped to her stomach. “That’s the station’s largest sponsor.” “I know. I’m sorry.” “Are the police going to investigate? Do they think Rhonda and

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Greg Tanner were murdered?” “Probably, but the security company will most likely claim someone routed the text message through their server.” “That shouldn’t happen to a security firm.” Shane shrugged. “What can I say? Let’s hope the police have better luck and find more evidence.” He polished off his beer, slapped his thighs, and stood. “It’s been real, but I’m beat. Good night.” She said nothing until his door clicked closed. She looked over at Cody. “It’s only eight o’clock.” “He gets that way. I can’t tell what’s on his mind, but I’m sure it’s a lot.” “Do you think he knows what we did this afternoon and that has him upset?” If so, it would mean he was jealous. “Shane would be happy for us.” What did that mean? Was he content to have Cody and her be together? Was he even interested? He had said Shane liked her ass. Cody came over and sat on the edge of the sofa next to her. “If you’re worried about him, you could go into his room and snuggle with him. I bet he’d appreciate the support. He isolates himself too much. I’m worried about him.” She wasn’t sure if Cody was just saying that because she wanted to hear it, or if he truly was worried about Shane. “I doubt he’d want company.” “All he can do is ask you to leave.” She looked up at him. “You don’t mind?” “Nothing would make me happier than to be able to share you with Shane. Sometimes, you need to be a little devious to get what you want.” Her heart sped up. “Do you think he wants me?” His grin told her the answer. “As much as I want you.” He grabbed his crotch. “If you know what’s good for you, go in there before I strip you naked and pack you so full of cock again you won’t be able to walk for a week.” She laughed and got up. She had no idea what to expect.

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Chapter Nine When the door clicked open, Shane tried to decide if Cody was coming in to tell him Jessie had left, or if Jessie herself was coming in to see if he was okay. He’d only crawled into bed a few minutes ago, having just brushed his teeth. Maybe he should have considered Jessie would have wanted to visit him and put on some clothes. From the way the small body was outlined from the hall light, Jessie stood in the doorway. She tiptoed toward the bed. So she wouldn’t trip over his pants, he reached over and clicked on the bedside lamp. He didn’t bother to cover himself. “You need something?” Damn. His tone came out almost harsh, but he needed to know her intentions. He didn’t need any sympathy. “I was worried about you.” That was what he thought. She was here because she felt sorry for him. He’d spent years trying to get over his own pity party. He didn’t need her to add to it. “You want to keep me company?” Good. His voice held more cheer, and he could use a naked body next to him, though with the way she pulled away after the kiss, he doubted he’d get much more. “Do you need a hug?” He’d take that as a yes. “Sure.” By now his cock had grown quite hard. From the way she kept stealing glances, she was curious as to how large it would get. He refused to use any fire hose humor. He opened his arms and scooted back on the bed to make room for her. She stood there for a moment then unbuttoned her top. Holy shit. He assumed she’d crawl into bed fully clothed, and he’d

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get to dream about having her naked. He wet his lips. Did she have any idea what she was doing to him by undoing one button at a time? Was she hoping that he’d tell her to stop? She’d have to wait a long time for that. When all five buttons were undone, she slipped the silky material off her shoulders. The top floated to the ground, and his mouth went dry. “Do you need help taking off those pants?” Damn. He should have kept his mouth shut to see just how far she’d go. When she said nothing, but instead reached around her back and undid her bra, he stopped breathing. She let the bra drop to the ground, and his cock painfully expanded. Not wanting to distract her, he didn’t move, even though his balls desperately needed adjusting. “You’re beautiful.” His words tumbled out. He hadn’t meant to say them out loud. Jessie stepped toward the bed, and his pulse sped up. She placed a knee on the bed and slowly leaned forward. His hands itched to touch her pretty tits, but he wanted her to make the first move. “Nice cock you have there.” He almost choked. He never remembered blushing before, but the heat sure did rush up his face. “Thanks.” Dumb ass. Say something nice about her. Before the words would form, she crawled further onto the bed and straddled him. At least he was able to lift his arms and grasp her tiny waist. His fingers nearly got scorched touching her. He’d dreamed about this for so long that he couldn’t wrap his head around the reality of it all. “Can I help you?” His lips failed to form a full smile. “You seemed a bit off tonight. I thought you could use a little comfort.” “How do I know you won’t love me and leave me?” I did not blurt that out. Shit, shit, shit. She leaned forward, and her hair cascaded over his face. Her scent was a mixture of peaches and something exotic. “I promise I would never do that.”

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His father had said the same thing, and look how that turned out. “Okay.” She might not have been telling the truth, but he desperately wanted to believe she was. She scooted forward so that her ass sat on his cock. He could barely breathe. “Why would you think I’d leave you? You don’t even know me.” He wasn’t going to go into the whole “mommy died and he felt abandoned” routine. Nor was he going to tell her how his dad cared more about his business than he did his only child. “Come here.” He’d much rather concentrate on the beauty before him than battle his inner demons. “You said something about a hug?” He needed to get her off his cock before it exploded. Visions of putting his dick in her ass kept blocking his thought process. She mercifully rolled next to him, and he wrapped her in his arms. Her body fit perfectly with his. Her hips came a bit above his own, making their lips align perfectly. Whether she kissed him first or he kissed her, he wasn’t sure, but when their lips met, every part of his body burned. The kiss in the park had been nothing like this one. Her passion seeped out of her pores. He needed more and opened his mouth. She dove in like a blaze getting oxygen. Desperate to taste all of her, he tangled his tongue with hers and explored the rest of her mouth. Their breaths mixed, and he felt like they’d become one. As if the need to dominate suddenly appeared, he rolled on top of her. The full-body contact added to the intensity of the pleasure. Lifting onto his elbows, he broke the kiss and studied her. “You have the prettiest hazel eyes.” With the tip of his finger, he traced the line of her eyebrows. She reached up and cupped his face. He’d never seen such wonder before. If he didn’t know better, he’d say she found him sexy. “You aren’t so bad yourself.” Then she pulled him down for another kiss. This time, her kiss was soft. She made her lips go loose, and he

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followed suit. His cock wouldn’t stop twitching. He slid his body down hers until his hands were near her waistband. He unbuttoned and unzipped her jeans. Pulling open the top, he kissed her silky skin. Her little moan nearly did him in. “I need to taste you.” Her hips lifted, and he slid the material over her perfect ass. He wanted to kiss, touch, and enjoy her butt, but for now, he’d finish exploring all the other wondrous parts of her. With each tug, he moved lower down her body. When he got to see her covered pussy, and then her thighs, it took all of his control not to ravish her right there. Jessie deserved all the care he could give her. Had it not been for her scorn, he never would have become the man he was today. He owed her everything. When he reached her feet, he tugged off the jeans and tossed them on the floor. Only her pink panties remained. Like a feral animal, he crawled up her body until his head was above her sweet pussy. “You want to play with her?” Damn her. How could she read his mind so well? “Uh-huh.” Jessie was a complex woman. She was part vixen, part bulldog. Right now, the seductress was in his bed, and he was going to take advantage of everything she had to offer. With one finger, he tugged on her panties. They slipped over her hips with ease. With a quick lift of her hips, he was able to pull them down. Leaving them around her thighs, he leaned over and pulled her pussy lips apart. Her honeyed aroma filled his senses, and his dick went crazy. He squeezed shut his eyes and forced his cock to behave. Now wouldn’t be the time to come all over her. He’d spent his life honing his control. Why did he have to lose it now? Needing a fix, he licked her. She grabbed onto his shoulders and pressed down tightly. From the way her head fell back and how her eyes closed, she was near to climaxing, too.

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**** Jessie couldn’t believe how much she wanted Shane. Her pussy was already swollen from the workout she got from Cody. His tongue woke up every cell in her body. When he dipped his finger into her, she swore she heard fireworks go off. He touched her clit, and her eyes almost rolled back in her head. She wasn’t going to last long with him playing with her. “Can I suck on your cock?” “No.” That wasn’t very nice of him, but the moment his tongue increased its speed, she forgot about her request. The inferno building inside her burst anew with each nip. He latched onto her clit, and her bundle of nerves exploded. She arched her back to get more contact. His hand reached up and plucked her nipple. The double sensation drove her wild with need. “Please.” “No.” Damn, he must have thought she was asking to suck his cock again. “I want you to fuck me.” She couldn’t make it any more clear. “Oh, I plan on fucking you all right.” She relaxed her back, but then his fingers went to work inside her. He found her most sensitive spot, and her pussy walls contracted. Her juices flowed with each touch. When he combined his mouth and his fingers, she couldn’t wait for him any longer. Her climax slammed into her hard, and she lost not only her breath but her mind. “Oh, God.” When the waves began to let up, she relaxed and Shane pulled off her panties. He crawled up next to her, opened the side drawer, and removed a condom. “You want to do the honors?” “You bet.” He was a fool if he thought she would just slip it on

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and be done with it. She got on her knees and tore open the package. “I often find that they go on easier when the cock is wet.” He grinned. “I think I made a mistake putting you in charge.” She returned his smile. “That you did.” She bent over and put the condom over the tip. “See? It doesn’t fit.” She dragged her tongue down his length, and he hissed. Needing to suck fully on him, she lifted off the condom and drew her lips as far down his cock as she could go. His thickness made it hard to keep a good seal on her lips. “That’s enough now.” She almost laughed at his desperate tone. She lifted off. “Spoilsport.” This time she did put on the condom, but she made sure to take her time. The second the condom was on, he took hold of her shoulders and flipped her over. He surprised her again by rolling her back over and pulling her up to her hands and knees. She wondered if he planned on taking her in the ass. While she’d never experienced anything like that, her pussy needed the friction. He pressed two fingers into her wet slit and dragged her juices up her divide. “I could watch your ass move for hours.” Okay, that kind of answered her question. “I’ve never had a cock in my ass before.” He chuckled. “Don’t worry. You won’t tonight either. I’ll need to take my time and stretch you out. I’m so ready to burst that I don’t have the patience.” She didn’t know if she was disappointed or not, but the prospect of making love to him caused her pussy to contract. As if he wanted to get her ready for what was to come, he dipped his finger into her dark hole. She instantly pressed down on it. “That feels funny.” For a person who spoke and wrote for a living, her vocabulary sure had degraded. “If you want to know all of me, you’ll have to relax. I promise

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you’ll like it.” She trusted Shane and relaxed her rear end muscles. He moved his finger around and around until her tight ring seemed more willing to accept him. It wasn’t until he put in two fingers that she knew she’d never be able to have a big cock back there. Shane didn’t seem discouraged. As she got more used to the sensation, little tingles jumped out and caught her attention. But it was when he used his other hand to touch her pussy that her ass began to understand the glory of what could be. Just as she was beginning to enjoy the sensation, he pulled out. “I can’t take this any longer.” His voice came out strangled. He threaded his cock into her pussy, and she thought she’d gone to heaven. He held on to her hips and slowly pumped into her, going way too slow. “You won’t hurt me.” “I don’t want to come too fast.” She smiled. Being able to keep him on the brink for so long gave her immense pleasure. He wanted her to come again, too. His right hand slid from her hip and grabbed her waist. He groaned, acting as if touching her body turned him on even more. Her heart fluttered wildly when he finally reached the end of her wet channel. To tease him more, she milked his cock and held him tight. “You’re killing me.” Just then the bedroom door opened, and Cody stood there naked. Her heart slammed against her ribs. Without saying a word, he walked over to her and stood with cock in his hand, right next to her mouth. She opened her mouth to draw him in. The juices in her mouth exploded, and she raked her teeth down his length. Cody threaded his fingers through her hair. “Knowing you two were making love drove me crazy. I couldn’t stand it.” She loved hearing how much he wanted to be with her. “You’re always welcome.”

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As if to punctuate that claim, Shane drove deep into her. Her mouth opened to let in more air. Cody’s cock balanced on her tongue. She fisted her hands as the exquisitely powerful thrust drove her to the peak of ecstasy. Probably thinking she’d forgotten him, Cody took hold of his cock and nudged it into her mouth. She clamped down on him, but the joy singing through her body was making her lose her concentration. She’d have to make it up to him later. Shane grabbed her ass just as Cody tweaked a nipple. Her body shot to overload status, and a tsunami-like torrent of electric shocks cascaded over her body as her climax took hold. She rode the wave higher and higher. She sucked to the rhythm, and Shane’s balls slapped against her pussy. Never had she been with two men before, but she knew this was totally where she wanted to be. No sooner had the edge of her climax started to wane when Cody grabbed the back of her head and drove his cock into her mouth. A mound of jism coated the back of her throat. He let go in time for her to swallow his salty juice. As if Shane had been selflessly waiting for everyone else to come, he groaned loudly enough to shake the house. His cock expanded, stretching her out, reigniting her body with intense carnal lust. His covered cock must have decided it was time to give it up as he pummeled her pussy with his cum. All of their breaths matched. Cody dropped onto his knees and fell face forward onto the bed. Shane finally withdrew and patted her butt. She was too tired to move. Shane thrust a towel between her thighs and began cleaning her. She didn’t move until he returned and lowered her to the bed. “That was hotter than any fire I’ve ever put out.” She had to agree. “It was so intense that it was like being inside a burning building but not wanting to leave.” She closed her eyes. Before she realized it, Shane nudged her awake.

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“Get up. Time for work.” Oh, shit. Everything registered. The amazing shower and sex with Cody, followed by the equally amazing sex with Shane. The addition of Cody at the end made it perfect. Faint light streamed into the window. A quick glance at the clock told her she had less than an hour to make herself presentable. Shane was putting on jeans. “Maybe you should consider keeping an outfit over here.” The thought thrilled her, but she didn’t want to move too fast. Though after what happened last night, she’d already crossed that line. There was no turning back. Cody walked in all dressed for work. “Come on, sleepyhead. I thought we could stop at the police department and see if the chief has any information for us.” “Do you think he’ll let us release the death threat?” If so, she could have Scott stop by and she could have another stellar interview. “You’ll have to ask him.” She got up and threw on her clothes. “I’d like to stop at my place and freshen up. Can I pick you up at the newspaper?” “And lose my lead?” She trotted over to him and rubbed her hands up and down his chest. “For me?” He grinned. “Let’s get him together, tiger.”

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Chapter Ten Chief Strong ushered them into his office. “I’m afraid I’m not going to release the information about the text. I don’t want to tip anyone off at Harman Security that we know anything about the Tanners’ deaths. You understand, don’t you?” Unfortunately, she did. “I won’t run the story without your permission.” “Me, too.” “I appreciate that. When we do learn anything, you two will be the first notified.” That was about the best they would ask for. They walked out of his office. “Since we didn’t have time for breakfast, you want to stop by the Eatery before we head to work?” Jessie’s face heated up and she looked around and the cops nearby. “Shh. I don’t want it announced to the world where I was last night.” He chuckled. “Who said anything about spending the night at my house?” He said it extra loud. She punched him in the arm. Her knuckles stung, but he kept a damned smile on his face. “Yes, I’d like food, but do you mind if I take some notes on the recent fire while we wait to be served?” He ran a finger down her cheek. “Don’t you ever just relax?” That was the cheetah calling the lion fast. “I did last night.” She winked. “I meant during business hours.” “Even when there is no story, I don’t totally relax. I didn’t exactly leave Denver on the best of terms, and I can’t afford to lose this job.” “How’s that?”

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“When the Denver station refused to air one of my stories because of fear of financial trouble with the sponsor, I got kind of mouthy.” His brows rose. “Sweet, shy, Jessie McCallister would tell someone to fuck off?” “Shh.” Two cops had entered through the station’s front door just as he made that comment. Great. “I didn’t use that term, but basically yes. I think if I hadn’t been a hometown girl, I wouldn’t have landed this job. I can’t afford to mess up again or I’ll be needing a new skill.” Her mom’s health wasn’t the best, and if she ever couldn’t work, Jessie would have to help support her. “I’m sure some kind person would take you on.” He smiled. She didn’t respond. There was no way she’d go to work for Cody, especially if they were still dating, assuming it could be called that. Besides, she’d checked into the salary of a newspaper reporter, and it was about a third of what she was making now. The Eatery was only a few blocks from the police department, so they decided to walk there. The lunch crowd had yet to descend, and the breakfast crowd had gone. The hostess sat them right away and a waitress rushed over. They each ordered an omelet. “May I have a coffee, please?” She was addicted to the caffeine and needed some now. After the drinks came, Cody eyed her over his cup. “How exactly are you going to handle the phone threat?” “Handle it?” She wasn’t sure what he meant. “Are you going to investigate further?” His knuckles turned white on the cup. “No. That’s the job for the police. Besides, if I ask too many questions, it could get me killed. I’ll only report the existence of a threat and leave it at that. I won’t mention it was a text or that it came from Harman Security. I do intend to hound the chief until we learn more. I’m still trying to contact Rhonda’s mom, but she hasn’t gotten back to me.” “If Rhonda’s mom knew the name of the killer, don’t you think

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she would have warned someone that her daughter might be in danger?” From the way his brows rose, he was teasing her. “After I speak with her, I’ll know. For now, I’m letting the police handle the case.” He smiled and leaned back in his chair. “I just wanted to be sure you weren’t looking for trouble.” The timbre of his voice shook. “Are you worried about me? Seriously?” “Did Walt or your cameraman ever tell you what happened to your predecessor?” “He retired.” Cody bit into his omelet and swallowed. “True, but that’s because he’s in a wheelchair and can’t work.” Why hadn’t she heard about that? “What happened?” She drank some coffee to wet her dry throat. “He stuck his nose in someone’s business and got shot.” She sucked in a breath. “What is Intrigue coming to?” “The attacker wasn’t from around here, but the reporter was. Report the news, nothing more.” If he hadn’t seemed so concerned, she might have been pissed. “I promise to be careful.” After they finished eating, they walked back to the police station where she picked up her car. With her mind working overtime, she drove back to the station. Having several meaty stories under her belt, Jessie finally began to relax around the station. She still planned on listening to the police scanner every day, and if need be, she’d get a copy of the daily police reports to make sure she didn’t leave any crime unreported. She closed her eyes for a second and leaned back in her chair, thinking about making love to the two most amazing men in the world. Both had changed remarkably since high school. They were responsible citizens who put the truth above all things. Now they seemed above being seduced by the lure of money.

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Her cell rang, and she jerked out of her reverie. Cody was on the line. “Hey.” “I got another lead for you.” Wasn’t he a doll to keep feeding her with stories? “You don’t want to report on it?” “Sure, but it’s more up your alley.” “What is it?” “Have you ever gone to have your oil changed and end up buying more products than you intended?” She chuckled. “That happens all the time. I think women are sitting ducks for being ripped off by mechanics.” “That’s what I thought. This story needs the female touch. A woman called me stating that the service center at one of the local car dealers is ripping off women. I thought you might like to run with this.” “Absolutely.” She pulled out her pad. “Which dealership is it?” “Lysner’s Automotive.” Shit. “I’ll have to pass.” “Don’t tell me Lysner’s is one of the station’s corporate sponsors.” From his fake tone, it was clear he knew the answer and was yanking her chain. “Yes, so you know why I can’t do this story.” “It’s juicy, and it’s criminal. You sure you want to pass?” No, she wanted to nail the guys to the wall. “I can’t. You know how this business works.” “Okay. I’ll talk to you later.” He got off the phone too quickly. He didn’t sound upset that she’d turned him down. What was up with that? Hadn’t he gotten upset when she basically sold out by not pushing Walt to air the Burger Haus sanitation issue? He’d considered her unwillingness to do the right thing bad. Why had he changed his mind? Walt came out and asked her to cover some thefts at the local

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convenience store. “Just interview the owner and we’ll put the story online. It’s not big enough for the 5:00 p.m. slot.” She bet this wouldn’t be very exciting. “I’m on it, boss.” A glimmer of a smile appeared. The store was only one mile out of town at the intersection of Snowy Ridge and Lincoln Highway. She brought her larger camera this time. It wasn’t the mack daddy like the one Scott carried, but it would do for a spot online. She spoke to the owner first before recording him. “Justin, can you tell me what was taken and when?” “This morning, Eaton Jones came in. I see him in here all the time. I have mirrors all over the store. I saw him stuff a couple of candy bars down his pants. He was wearing those baggy kind where you can see his underwear.” “Yes. What happened then?” “He walked out as casual as could be.” “What did you do?” He shrugged. “I didn’t do anything. I was the only one in the store, besides the other customers. I couldn’t have run out after him. Who knows what the people would have taken.” That was all? This was more lame than the curly fries story. “Are the police investigating?” “One of the officers went to Eaton’s house, but all the evidence was gone.” “Don’t you have him on security tapes?” “No, ma’am. It broke a while back.” She signed off and left the store. If these stories didn’t get more interesting, she’d either die of boredom or the station would lose its sponsors because no one wanted to watch this drivel. She was halfway to the office when she got another call. This time it was Shane, and she smiled. “Greetings.” “Jessie, you gotta come. Lysner’s Automotive is on fire. Hurry.” He disconnected.

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Her heart shot into overdrive. Okay. This was a real story. Yes! She performed a quick U-turn and headed south to the dealership. She expected to hear sirens or see smoke but neither appeared. When she pulled into the lot, a few customers were looking at cars with the salesmen helping them. She slowed and parked, curious what was going on. She spotted Shane’s truck in the lot. Why would he be here without the fire truck? The only way to find out these answers was to go in and ask. It took a few false turns, but she finally found Shane in the customer service area. He jumped up and smiled. When she neared, he gave her a kiss. While she enjoyed the diversion, her curiosity wouldn’t let her return the kiss. “What’s going on?” He nodded to a woman two seats away. She got up and came over. “Hi, I’m Carolyn Danvers, and I wanted to tell you my story.” She glanced at Shane. “I repeat. What’s going on?” “Come on. Let’s get out of here. There are ears everywhere.” He didn’t answer her question, but getting out of there fit into her plans. “I take it there is no fire.” “That would be a no. Sorry.” “So this is another trick?” When he shrugged, she wanted to pound on his chest, but he was too adorable to get mad at. “All I’m asking is that you listen to what these women have to say.” She looked over at Carolyn. “There are more who got ripped off?” “Yes. They’re waiting at the Eatery. They want to tell you their story.” As long as she was out, she might as well hear what they had to say. “Okay. Let’s go.” Shane smiled, and she nearly tripped. Damn. He could probably ask her to jump off a bridge and she’d do it. She had it bad. Once they arrived, she found three other women chatting away. Carolyn introduced her friends. They all sat, and Jessie ordered coffee. “So tell me what happened. Carolyn, why don’t you go first?”

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“About two weeks ago, I brought my car in for an oil change at the service department. They said they’d do that for me. Then they asked about how long it had been since I got my brakes checked. Like I knew? They took a look and told me the pads were worn. If I didn’t get them fixed, I might go to stop, and the car would keep on going. I’m a widow and can’t afford an accident. You understand, right?” “Yes. Go on.” She’d pushed the record button on her phone to get all the details. “I let them talk me into not only replacing the brakes, but I signed up for about three other items. The bill came to over five hundred dollars.” Jessie whistled. She knew how much of a dent that would put into her savings. “Did you know the price before they started the repairs?” “Yes, but that’s not the point.” Jessie figured this was the case of a woman who regretted agreeing to all the repairs. “What is the point, Carolyn?” “I got the new brakes, but three days ago, I went to stop and the damn things failed. I plowed into the back of a truck and totaled my car. I had another mechanic take a look at my vehicle, and he said my brakes had never been replaced.” Maybe that explained the bandage on her forehead. Anger rippled through her at the injustice. The other women’s stories were basically the same. They each handed her receipts. One told her she’d paid for an oil change, but within eight weeks, the engine had run out of oil, and the engine block had cracked. Jessie was almost sick by the time they’d all told their horror stories. “When you went back to Lysner’s, what did they say?” “They said they had changed the oil, but that I had a crack in one of my lines, and it leaked out. They never would take responsibility for anything they do.” When Jessie believed she had enough evidence, she thanked the ladies. “Stay tuned to the station. I’ll do my best to investigate.”

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When all the ladies left, Shane smiled. “I like the way you handled that. So, you’re going to write this up?” “I’ll try, but the problem is, no matter what I come up with, Walt will never let it air. It’s too controversial.” “Cody and I appreciate your willingness to try.” She didn’t understand why they were pushing her so hard to take on these impossible stories. KRPT’s sponsors weren’t a secret. Was Cody secretly trying to get her fired? It would make no sense for that to be true. She said good-bye to Shane and piled back in her car. After hearing the women’s story, she wanted to do something to help them whether the story aired on not. She had a plan and it involved some prep work at her house. She’d just gotten her oil replaced and had new brakes, so Lysner’s would have no grounds to recommend she redo those. She decided to see what the men at the service station would say if she asked them to check out these items. She headed off to the dealership. She’d been told that most auto dealership’s revenue came not from selling the cars, but from servicing them. She drove in and told them about needing an oil change. She also asked them to take a look at her brakes and tires. While she waited, she wrote up her story and edited the footage she had from the women’s tales. She was in the middle of her story when they called her to the service desk. “I’m afraid your brake pads are very worn, as are your tires. Would you like us to replace them?” She didn’t have the money to get that done, but she suddenly wanted to right a wrong. “How about replacing the front two tires. I can’t afford to do all four right now. As for the brakes, I’ll take my chances.” Back at her house, she’d marked all four tires with paint that showed up only under black light. She filmed herself making the

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marks. If the front tires weren’t changed, she’d have her story. Fiftyfive minutes later they told her she was all set. The $350 bill hurt, but she was willing to sacrifice for the good. As soon as she got home, she set up her phone, turned off the overhead lights, and hit the tires with the black light. Sure enough the word gotcha showed up. That might have been the best money she ever spent. She jumped back into the car and raced to the station with the story. She expected to get shot down, but to save face with the men, she had to give it a try. She rushed into Walt’s office and showed him what she had. He kept silent until the glowing gotcha appeared. His hands clenched. “Shit.” “Now what?” “This would make great press, but we can’t use it.” “Do not tell me they, too, are station sponsors.” “You know damned well they are. What are you up to?” Whoops. Caught. Her breaths came out fast. “These people are ripping off innocent women. We can’t let them continue to do this. We need to expose them.” “I’m sorry. I wish I could help, but my hands are tied.” Two could play at this game. “What happens if I leak this to the newspaper? They couldn’t sue the station then.” Walt shoved back his chair and stood. “That would have the same end result. If Lysner’s is caught in a big scandal, they’ll go belly-up. That means no money for us. So kill it. Got it?” She wanted to spit in his face. “I got it.” She spun around and stomped out, royally pissed that every good lead always tied back to money. Working here wasn’t any better than working in Denver. Maybe all news stations were alike, and she’d never get any satisfaction. Returning to her desk, she dropped onto her seat, trying to decide what to do next. Before she could draw any conclusion, her cell rang.

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Thank God it was Shane. “Am I glad to hear a friendly voice.” “I take it your boss didn’t like the story?” “That’s an understatement. I had them by the balls, too.” “I wanted to make it up to you for telling you there was a fire and there wasn’t.” Her muscles relaxed for the first time today. “I know you were trying to help those women.” “I was, but I wanted to help you, too. Would you be willing to come over after work? I have something special planned.” She liked that. “What is it?” “Let’s just say I’m going to light your fire.”

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Chapter Eleven When she arrived at Cody’s house, Shane answered. Boy, was he a sight for sore eyes. His dark hair was damp from a shower, and he’d splashed on some woodsy, fresh-air-smelling cologne that perked her up. “You look like you could use a hug.” “You’ve got that right.” She stepped into his embrace, and his tight hold melted her muscles. “I could stay here all night.” “You figured out my plan, I see.” He chuckled and led her inside. “Could you use a glass of wine?” “Absolutely.” “I have dinner in the Crock-Pot, so we can eat whenever you’re hungry.” “As long as you didn’t get any ingredients from Burger Haus, I’ll be happy.” “You were a trooper eating there. Cody is going to do an exposé on them.” “Good.” At this point she didn’t care if the station suffered financial loss because one of their sponsors sucked. He placed her on the sofa then got her a glass of wine. He came out with a beer for himself. He held up his bottle. “To the truth.” She smiled and tapped her glass to his. “To the truth.” “Cody called a few minutes ago and said he had to work late, so it’s you and me. Hope you don’t mind.” “Getting to spend time alone with either of you is a treat, as is being with both.” He grinned. When they finished their drinks, he stood and held out

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his hands. “Come on. I told you I was going to set you on fire.” “Before we eat?” “That’s the plan.” Shane wasn’t usually so playful, so she was extra curious what he had in store. He took hold of her hands and pulled her toward his bedroom, confirming he planned on seducing her. Once they got to his room, he turned her around. “I want to do something really special for you. It will take you out of your comfort zone, but I promise you it is safe.” From the excitement that laced his voice, this was something he’d enjoy just as much. Was he talking about having anal sex with her? “Okay.” She’d never considered having his big cock in her ass unsafe. “For this, it’s best if I tie your hands to the bed.” She chuckled, mostly due to embarrassment. “Why?” He stepped really close, cupped her cheeks, and kissed her. “Do you trust me?” That was a silly question. “Of course I do.” “Do you think I’m good at my job?” Now he was almost beginning to scare her at the intensity of his voice. “Yes. If you weren’t the best, you wouldn’t have been promoted to arson investigator.” He grinned and his shoulders relaxed. Without saying anything, he lifted off her shirt and placed it on the back of his desk chair. “I can’t wait to taste you again.” His voice was almost a whisper. He slipped off her bra and let it drop to the floor. He was on her tits in a heartbeat. The intense pressure, combined with her need, made her pussy dampen. She clasped his shoulders and dug her fingernails into him. “I want you naked.” “Not yet.” Why did these two have to torture her so? He stepped back to his drawer and pulled out a neatly folded, navy-blue tie. She’d love to see him dressed up in that one day. She bet every woman’s head would

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turn. He led her to the bed. “Lie down for me. You won’t be sorry.” She couldn’t fathom what he had in mind. She’d been tied up once before and loved it. Being constrained turned her on. She got on her back and lifted her arms above her head. He was quick to secure her wrists to the bed’s headboard. “I don’t want you to be tempted to stop me.” “I would never do that.” He smiled. He took her shoes off next and then dragged her pants down her legs. All that remained was her panties. She expected him to crawl between her thighs and lick her. Instead, he returned to his drawer and pulled out two more ties. He waved them. “One for each leg.” Imagining what this was going to feel like made her pussy juice up more. Her hips seemed to wiggle on their own. He pulled down her panties. The moment she was totally naked, he grinned. Then he ran his tongue over his lips. “I so want you, but I need to do something first.” Tie me up. Shane was gentle and quick in securing her legs to the bed. She’d never had both her hands and legs bound. Contractions clamped down on her pussy. When he walked over to his desk, she expected him to pull out a condom. Instead he withdrew a bottle and what looked like a stick with a marshmallow on one end. When he stepped closer, she figured it might be used for playing drums. He slowly dragged the white, fluffy head over her tits. “How does this feel?” “Soft and gentle.” Though she would have preferred his hand. “Good.” He stepped back and slid on a fire-resistant glove. “What’s that for?” Her pulse raced. “I plan on heating you up.” Her heart beat furiously in her chest. “How do you plan on doing that?” When he lit the fluffy end on fire, she struggled. “What are you

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doing?” “Relax. You won’t get burned. Here, I’ll show you.” He poured what smelled like alcohol onto his skin and set it on fire. Her heart lurched, but when the smile didn’t leave his face, she realized the fire was on top of the alcohol. He doused the flame with his fireman’s glove. Her body began to relax. “That’s kind of cool.” “Actually, if I repeat the action over the same spot, it heats you up and will turn you on. The forbidden is so exciting.” “Is this what you learned in firefighter school?” He laughed. “No, but I did take a class from a fire artist on how to excite the woman you love. Everything to do with fire fascinates me.” He loved her? All other thoughts disappeared. He’d said it so casually that maybe he meant it to be a figure of speech. Regardless, her body had totally relaxed. Trust was the cornerstone to this experience. He glanced over her body. “I think you’ll enjoy this more if I blindfold you, but first I want to change the knot on this tie. I’ll make it so that if you tug hard, it will come undone.” She blew out a breath. His considerate act went a long way to bolstering her confidence. He then wrapped another tie over her eyes. No light leaked in. “That’s good.” Most likely if she saw him set her on fire, she might panic. She wasn’t afraid of the dark, and she knew Shane would never hurt her. The realization that she loved him, too, slammed into her. When had that happened again? As a teenager she was convinced she was meant to be with them. Somehow the gods of fate had proven her right. The first brush of alcohol cooled her skin, shooting a shiver up her arm. He dragged the wand over her skin. At first nothing happened, or so she believed. Then a hint of heat warmed her skin before he brushed his meshed gloved hand over her. “How was that?” Concern filled his voice.

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“Good, but I want to watch.” It might be scarier, but part of the thrill was to watch his face when he touched her. He removed the mask. “Don’t worry if you see the glove catch on fire. It’s supposed to. There is a sensual rhythm to the whole experience, so if you could keep the talking to a minimum, I think we’ll both be better off.” The hair rose on her body. “Are you that close to burning me?” He smiled. “No, but silence puts me in the mood better than anything. I like to stay in my own little world while I make fire love to you.” He winked. “Then I plan on making real love.” He leaned over and kissed her nice and slow. He held his burning wand high above her face. He stepped back and turned off the lights. The flame on his hand had extinguished. He lit the wand, rubbed alcohol over her chest, then dragged the flame across her breasts. Her mind had a hard time reconciling what she saw with what she felt. Heat seeped into her body, but there was no pain or burning. It was like standing in front of a space heater on a cold winter’s night. The comforting warmth spread. As he claimed, there was a rhythm to the seduction. A swipe of alcohol was followed by a slow, sensual pass of the fiery wand over her body. The fire would leap to life. She’d watch it flicker and turn colors. As her skin heated, he’d swipe away the flame. He’d tap her tit then tap her belly. Slowly, he worked his way down her body. If he repeated a spot, the skin would warm further. The burning wand mesmerized her with its flickering flame of desire. Even spots he hadn’t touched heated her up. Her pussy begged to be given attention, but she wasn’t sure she could handle it. The burning wand got closer and closer to her destination. Instead of lighting her pussy on fire, he drew the wand over her thighs. To her surprise, the effect was the same. Having the licking, greedy flame nearby focused her attention on her insatiable need. She wasn’t sure how long he lit and doused her, but her pussy

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perfume was stronger than the alcohol. In a flash, the light was gone. A match flared, and candlelight filled the room. “I want to see you when I make love to you.” His sexy voice filled every pore of her body as he tossed his glove onto the desk. “Yes.” All she could do was pant that one word. Shane tore off his shirt. His rippled muscles glistened in the candlelight. What she wouldn’t give to learn how to light him on fire. When he unsnapped the top button on his jeans, her gaze froze on his hands. This wasn’t a man in a hurry. No, he wanted to make every mouthwatering move to torture her. “Please hurry.” He laughed, as if he was thrilled he’d succeeded in driving her crazy. “Patience.” One zipper cog at a time, he lowered his hand until his cock popped out. “Ooh. Me like.” Never taking his gaze off her, he stepped out of his jeans. “Now for my feast. I can smell that you’re ready for me.” “I guess you’ll have to see for yourself.” Like a lion stalking his prey, he climbed onto the bed and dropped down between her thighs. When his tongue touched her pussy, her body lit up. Here she thought the whole fiery experience had been the most erotic event in her life. That one lick set her on fire. “Easy now.” Easy? He took her way out of her comfort zone by lighting her on fire, and he wanted her to calm down? Her pulse had yet to return to normal. Her internal ramblings stopped instantly when he sucked hard on her bundle of nerves. Her back arched, wanting more. “God, that feels so good.” “I want to make you scream.” She could do that now with how he was touching her. His tongue brought her such pleasure when he twirled the tip in and out of her opening. It was when he pressed his fingers into her cunt that she

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thrilled. This foreplay had to stop. “I want your cock.” “You don’t have to beg for that. You will get my cock, I promise you.” She tugged on her restraints, not for the purpose of getting loose, but to feel the tightness on her body, to help with the release. Her hands popped loose. Taking advantage of her unexpected freedom, she grabbed his bulging shoulders. Shane lifted his head. “Since you’re already free, let’s move on to part two of your new experience.” Thrills and sparks drenched her. “What would that be?” How could he top setting her on fire? He glanced up at her and shook his head. With a quick movement, he freed her ankles. “Get on your elbows and knees.” Oooh. So that was what he had in mind. She’d been thinking about his big cock in her ass for days. Once she was in position, he patted her butt. “I know what you’re thinking, but you aren’t ready for me yet.” Her back sagged. “Can’t we try?” Damn. She hadn’t meant to whine. “I need to stretch out that pretty ass of yours first. It’s like putting alcohol on your skin before lighting you on fire. It’s called protection. I don’t want you to experience any pain.” A bit of pain often accompanied pure bliss, but he clearly knew what he was doing. “You already stretched me out the other night, didn’t you?” He’d plunged his fingers in her ass. “That was just the beginning.” Oh, my. The weight lightened on the bed. Drawers opened and closed. When he returned, he sat at her head. He ripped open a small package and produced a dildo that didn’t quite look anatomically correct. It also appeared to be half the size of Shane. Realization dawned on how this was going to work.

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He tapped her butt. “I’m going to put lube on this to make the entry easier. This will seem foreign, just like setting you on fire was a bit out of the norm, but my goal is to get you used to the sensation of having something large in your ass.” “It makes sense.” She’d expected to be apprehensive, but instead, tingles shot over her body in anticipation. He covered the fake cock in some goo that smelled faintly like strawberries. “Close your eyes and imagine it’s my cock filling and loving you.” She could do that. He moved behind her and rubbed her ass with one hand while he played with her tits with the other. The soothing distraction worked. Her insides let go of the tension. He returned both hands to her ass and gently squeezed her butt cheeks. Her breaths increased, waiting for the big moment. He slipped a lubed finger into her hole. She really did try not to clamp down on his finger, but her body had other ideas. He didn’t get mad. Instead, he wiggled the finger in her ass. Slowly, she accepted the unfamiliar digit. In fact, when he hit one spot, sparks of excitement shot out. “I kind of like that.” “Good. I’m glad.” With her encouragement, he added another finger and scissored his fingers, stretching her wide. How she could take anything larger, she wasn’t sure. Just when she was getting used to two fingers, he slipped them out. The cold dildo pressed against her puckered hole. “Take a breath,” he said in a calm voice. She did and he popped the cock past her tight ring. She inhaled at the newness of it all. He didn’t move. Instead, he dragged his palm over her back in light strokes just like he had when dousing the flames. His calming touch helped. It was when he touched her pussy that her whole body let out a sigh. That allowed him to press the dildo in deeper. He hit another arousal spot. Who knew she had so many exciting nerves back there?

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Between touching her tits and playing with her pussy, she’d been so distracted that she hadn’t realized he’d managed to get the fake cock into her. “How does that feel?” She wiggled her butt and clenched a few times. “Not bad.” More foil tore, and when latex snapped, she knew she’d finally get what she really wanted. As Shane leaned over her back, his cock rubbed against the dildo and her pussy. He placed tiny, delicate kisses on her neck. “I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything.” His desperation turned her on. “Me, too.” Without any more prompting, he touched his cock to her pussy and pressed in. Only then did she realize how little space there was. Having the dildo and his huge cock in her at the same time took up all the possible space. Her breath caught. He must have realized her dilemma, for he eased back and forth until she got used to having both inside her. She was ready. Her pussy was gushing. “Faster.” He took her at her word and drove in. Her slick walls grabbed his thickness and sucked him to the end. Blinding pleasure took hold as he threaded his way to her nirvana. Her body was already ultrasensitive from the heating, but his cock toppled the mark she used to call a high. He clamped onto her waist and pulled out partway. “What you do to me.” Her throat turned dry. As he rammed into her, a torrent of unbridled pleasure collided with ecstasy. “Yes, yes, yes.” She was so near to climaxing, but she wanted to keep from exploding. She wanted this to last forever. He changed his speed over and over again, sometimes coming at her hard and sometimes taking her so slow she thought she couldn’t stand it anymore. She pressed her butt backward to get more of him.

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“I’m so close.” His words floated out on a whisper. With one big thrust, wave upon wave of fiery lust grabbed her. She milked his cock over and over until her own climax landed, sending her into oblivion. Her heart sped and her pussy sang. His cock expanded over and over again until the heat from his jism seeped through the condom walls. Her body continued to vibrate long after her climax finished. Neither spoke for what seemed like minutes. When his cock reduced a bit in size, he pulled it out and dropped back onto the bed. He pulled her on top of him and kissed her. “You are the most amazing woman I know.” “I can state for a fact that no woman is luckier than I am. Who gets to have her man set her on fire twice in one night?” He laughed and his eyes sparkled. “Let’s clean you up.” She remembered the last time Cody had said that and they’d showered together. It was going to be a long evening.

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Chapter Twelve Jessie had a hard time concentrating at work today. It was no wonder with what happened last night. The only bummer was that Cody had a late meeting in Cheyenne and decided to spend the night there, but she’d never complain because she got to make love with Shane. This morning over the police scanner she picked up another domestic violence call. When she got there the couple was kissing and making up and were too busy to talk to her. Basically, she’d wasted her morning on a story that didn’t pan out. Now, she was doing research to see how many other unexplained fires had occurred near Intrigue. At the moment, the Tanner fire was being considered a homicide only because of the threatening phone text message. If the police couldn’t link it to Harman Security, the chief said they might just consider the Tanner and Shepley fires as the beginning of an arsonist’s spree. Adding to that theory was the fact that Shane had been called to two small fires this past week. Her phone rang, but she didn’t recognize the number. “Jessie McCallister.” “Ms. McCallister, this is Rhonda Tanner’s mom, Barbara Rosen.” She sucked in a breath. “I was hiking and camping in Seattle for the last two weeks and just got home.” Her voice sounded thick, like she’d been crying. “Dear Lord, I had no idea my darling daughter was dead.” The pain and agony tugged at her heart. “I’m so sorry for your loss.” Her gut soured and churned when Mrs. Rosen broke down again. Jessie spent a few minutes calming her.

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Finally, the woman seemed to gain some composure. “Do you know who killed my daughter and son-in-law?” “The police are working on it.” She sniffled again, and then she blew her nose. “I might be able to help.” That was not what she expected her to say. “How? Is this about Andy?” Cody, or maybe it was Shane, told her that child services was trying to find a relative to take him. “No. I got a letter from my daughter. It was dated ten days ago, right before the fire.” The woman didn’t say anything for a moment, and from the sobbing, Jessie wanted to give her a minute to pull herself together. “What did the letter say?” She hoped she was able to hide the enthusiasm in her voice. “It said to open only upon her death.” Her heart jumped into warp-drive speed. “And did you open the letter?” “Yes.” I’m dying here. Tell me. “And?” “I think it would be better if I came down in person. I have to bury Rhonda and Greg anyway as well as see to Andy’s care. I’m not one to trust phones. People can tap them.” “Why don’t you go to the police?” Jessie was thrilled she might learn something first, but it made sense to notify the authorities even though she had called the woman. “I don’t know who to trust.” “Why me?” “I looked online and saw that you were new to the station. I thought you might be impartial. You didn’t know my daughter.” Her logic didn’t quite add up, but she wasn’t going to complain. “That makes sense.” No need to convince her to seek out someone else. “Can I pick you up at the airport in Cheyenne?” “That would be helpful. I’ll e-mail you with the flight information.

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I’ll get on the first plane I can.” The flights from Chicago into Cheyenne were plentiful. They exchanged e-mail addresses. After she hung up, Jessie sat stunned, not sure what to make of the information. People didn’t send Do Not Open envelopes unless the information was highly sensitive. Maybe she’d finally learn why Rhonda was killed. **** “Mrs. Rosen, so nice to meet you.” They shook hands. “I’m so sorry for your loss,” she said again. Jessie tossed the sign with Mrs. Rosen’s name in the trash and escorted her to baggage claim. While they waited for the luggage, Rhonda’s mom handed her the envelope from Rhonda. “I want you to have this. I’m too nervous to carry it around anymore.” This was the envelope with some incriminating evidence, she was sure. Jessie wanted to rip it open right now, but that would have been rude. “Where are you staying?” She wanted to be sure the grieving mother had a place. “I booked the Holiday Inn. A few of Rhonda’s friends called and offered their homes, but I feel more comfortable staying by myself. One never knows if one of Rhonda’s friends could have had a hand in the fire.” Jessie left that comment alone. When they got to the hotel, Jessie helped Mrs. Rosen settle in, and then opened the envelope. It contained several pieces of paper. One was the letter. She spread everything out on the table and read what Rhonda had written. The letter detailed a string of break-ins in the area. Her heart stopped when she got the name of the company. It was Harman Security, the number one sponsor of KRPT.

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Shit, shit, shit. Enough was enough. The information was shocking, and the ramifications staggering. It was no wonder some people wanted Rhonda dead. Mrs. Rosen stepped behind her. “Do you see why I didn’t want to read the letter over the phone?” “Yes, especially when a security company is involved.” She faced her. “I’ve never looked into the extent of their business. I’m not sure if they do surveillance, but one never knows.” She wished she could have had Mrs. Rosen read the story on camera, but Jessie feared those responsible for the thefts might come after her, too. Jessie was determined to write the story, even though in her gut she knew her boss would put the kibosh if she did. “Please contact me if you need anything.” “Just get the bastards who killed my daughter.” “I’ll do my best.” When she got back to the station, she hurried to get the story in its readied form. The evidence against Harman Security was bulletproof. The company was breaking into people’s homes outside of Intrigue, fencing the goods stolen, then sweeping in and offering to put in a security system. Since they were the thieves, once the system was installed, there were no more break-ins. While being duped was terrible, the mere fact that a person’s house had been violated and his precious possessions taken made her stomach ache. She knew how hard her mom worked for what she had. If she ever lost her television set, it would set her back weeks. No, these people needed to be stopped. When she was convinced she’d done the best she could with the story, she rushed into Walt’s office. After the report aired, she was sure the police would string up the firm by their scrawny security necks. Finally, she’d get to tell a story the way she wanted. She waltzed into his office. He looked up. “From the way you’re bouncing, you got something good.”

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She’d handed him copies of all the documents. “I have the report ready to air.” She expected his eyes to shine and a rare smile to cross his face. Instead he scowled. “You know damned well we can’t air this.” He shoved the pages back at her. Her heart flipped. “Why not? Harman is stealing from people.” It wasn’t a case of a restaurant being dirty or women being taken advantage of. This was way worse. “Not only are they taking goods, but they’re stealing people’s faith in humanity.” Her body vibrated as her blood pressure rose. “Harman is our biggest sponsor.” “I know, but in this case, it shouldn’t matter. They are breaking the law.” “That’s the way of corporate America.” Bullshit. “So what you’re saying is that money is more powerful than the truth?” “Sad as it might seem, that’s the case.” He was wrong on so many levels. “If you won’t let me air this, I’ll take it to the Intrigue Sun, and then to the cops.” “Then I’ll fire you.” Her heart stopped. If she didn’t tell, she’d be an accessory to a crime. But if she said nothing, she’d be safe. “You can’t do that.” “Let’s be reasonable.” He picked up his pen and twirled it over his knuckles. “I think you’re overreacting here. Maybe the transition from Denver to here has been difficult for you. Why don’t you take a few days off? Go see your friends in Colorado.” He pulled out his drawer and extracted a checkbook. “In fact, the station will pay for your food and board for the weekend.” “You’re trying to buy my silence?” She barely could speak the words. “You know better than that. I can see you’re agitated and need a break. I want to help, that’s all.”

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“What’s the bottom line here, Ich…Walt?” “Drop the story. If you persist, young lady, I’ll see you don’t work in this state again. You have until tomorrow morning to tell me your decision.” This job was the last link to success. Before she said anything she might regret, she turned and left. Tears spilled over her lashes, but she brushed them away. She had to get out of there. This wasn’t the end. Or was it? She picked up her purse and rushed out, needing to think things through. She really wanted to expose the truth about a company that was stealing from potential clients. What they were doing was wrong, but if she went to the cops or to the newspaper, she’d lose her job. She’d been poor and could never go there again. On her way home, she picked up a dinner from the Eatery. Cooking was the last thing on her mind. Maybe she’d have a nice glass of wine and a soak in the tube. There had to be something she could do and not end up in the unemployment line. She sat on her sofa watching some mindless show on TV in her nightgown and robe when the doorbell rang. She hadn’t spoken with either Cody or Shane today. There was no way she could explain her situation and not get in trouble with them. The bell rang again, followed by a knock. “We know you’re in there.” That was Shane’s voice. She stood, wrapped the robe belt around her middle, and opened the door. Even the flowers in Cody’s hands and the grins on their faces couldn’t lift her out of her funk. “Come on in.” Cody picked her up and swung her around. “Our woman seems to be down. What’s wrong?” “It’s nothing.” Shane ran a tender hand down her arm. “You’re upset about something. Tell us.” She couldn’t hide her problems forever. “You want something to

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drink?” Cody’s glance caught the wine bottle. “We’ll have what you’re having.” She poured each of them a glass of wine. “Okay, I can tell you a little bit, but I’m not giving you details.” She basically outlined the fact that she had a story in which a crime was being committed. “If I go to the police, or tell you, Cody, Walt will fire me.” She then told them that Walt had tried to buy her silence. They didn’t ask for details and threw out possible suggestions for the next five minutes. Cody shook his head. “There’s no way out other than to go to the cops.” She couldn’t do that. They understood that she’d lose her job, but did they realize that by going on unemployment, her mom would be affected, too? “I know I should, but it’s hard.” Cody wrapped his arms around her. “We want what’s best for you.” “Losing my job isn’t in my best interest.” He leaned back. “You are a truth seeker. That’s what we love about you. Why change now?” “You know why.” “We know you. You won’t be able to live with yourself if you don’t do the right thing. The guilt will eat away at you.” “Maybe, but it doesn’t help.” Cody stood, then Shane. “I wish we could make the decision for you, but it’s up to you. Sleep on it.” He kissed her forehead. She could read between the lines. If she didn’t give up Harman Security, neither Cody nor Shane would love her again. “How about if this is the last time I cave?” Shane stepped over. “Trust me when I say it will happen again. This is the third time. You need to make a decision about your

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future.” They were right. “I’ll try.” He squatted in front of her and took her hands in his. “Both Cody and I try to do what’s right. It’s never easy. We can’t let our needs or feelings get in the way of the truth.” He shrugged. “The Jessie we knew and loved used to fight for everything. You were the champion of the underdog. In your heart, you still are.” He let go of her hands and swiped a palm down his jaw. “You hated the establishment at one time. What happened to that woman?” There went that love word again. Clearly, Shane didn’t mean it or they wouldn’t have been so harsh now. “Ask anything of me, but just don’t ask me to be poor. That’s not who I am anymore.” “You’re right. You’re a journalist with an amazing talent. You do have possessions, but possessions don’t make the woman. We love you for who you are, and always will, but this isn’t you.” One again, they were right. This wasn’t who she was deep inside. But damn, it wasn’t easy being true to oneself. He nodded to Cody, and they both walked out. If the ceiling had fallen or an earthquake had shaken the building, she wouldn’t have noticed. So numb she couldn’t move, Jessie remained more depressed than before. The choice was simple. Keep her job or lose the two men she loved. They didn’t say that, but that was what they meant. Tears streamed down her face and her body turned cold. It was Cody and Shane who didn’t know what they wanted. If she were dirt-poor, they’d never love her. It would be like in high school all over again. Rich men didn’t love poor girls. She was in a no-win situation. The sages always said that when a person hit rock bottom, the only way was up. They were dead wrong.

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Chapter Thirteen Jessie kept flipping the channels on the television all night long. Nothing held her attention. She debated her dilemma for hours. She’d even taken out a piece of paper, drawn a line down the center, and listed the pros and cons of each choice. While not telling on those criminals could result in jail time and have her begging for food, it was the thought of never being with Shane and Cody again that was the deciding factor. Around 7:00 a.m., she put on jeans and a T-shirt, gathered the incriminating evidence, and drove to the police department. Fortunately, Chief Strong was there. “Hey, Jessie. Sorry, we still haven’t figured out who set the fire at the Tanner house.” “I know who did it.” Her tone must have been flat because he rushed over to the other side of the desk and pulled up a chair for her. “Who?” She handed him the proof that Harman Security was breaking into homes and stealing their goods. Rhonda Tanner was the secretary to the President of Harman Security. She had transcripts of conversations proving that the president had orchestrated all of the criminal activities. “This is hard to believe,” the chief said. “I know. I tried to get Walt to air this, but he refused. He told me if I told the paper or the police that I’d be fired.” She shook her head and a chuckle escaped. “I haven’t slept all night.” “You were right in coming here.”

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“I know, but the truth doesn’t pay my bills.” “You’ll find something. Hell, maybe you should apply here. You’d make a great investigator.” She appreciated that he was trying to help. “Thanks.” Cleaning out her desk was the last thing she wanted to do, but she owed it to the station to let them know she was resigning. When she filled out her next résumé, it would look better to state she quit rather than got fired. Walt floated by, looked at her, and continued on his way. Since she hadn’t said anything, he probably figured she was cool with the cover-up. After all, she let the Burger Haus lack of sanitation story disappear in the wind, and she didn’t pursue Lysner’s Automotive scam either. She kept waiting to see the exposé in the paper, but so far there’d been nothing. She thought Cody had written the stories. He was probably waiting for her to wise up and quit. Well, he’d get his chance now. She typed up her resignation and walked into Walt’s office. He looked up, but kept his hands on the keyboard. “Yes? Got something juicy I can actually use today?” “I quit.” She let her resignation float down to him. He read what she’d written and his face turned red. “You can’t do this.” “I’ve already turned over the evidence to the police. The chief knows you told me to sit on the Harman Security story. I wouldn’t be surprised if the cops came in here and arrested your sorry ass for obstruction of justice.” They never would since Walt would deny he knew anything about the story, but she liked saying it. “You do realize what this will do to your career?” “Yup. But I’ve been thinking. I don’t like working for an establishment that squelches the truth in favor of revenue.” Walt pushed back his chair and rounded his desk. Sure, he was a good eight inches taller than she was, but today he’d never be able to intimidate her. She had to hold in a laugh at his pathetic attempt to

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show he was the boss. “Get out of my office.” “My pleasure.” She tossed him a smile and sashayed out. Despite the fact she was now going to be impoverished, there was a lightness to her step she hadn’t expected. Doing what was right felt good. It had been years since she’d been this free. After she picked up her few possessions, she left all keys on her desk and walked out. The big question was what to do now. She should let Cody know that he could run the Burger Haus and Lysner’s Automotive stories without any consequences to her. In a way, by trying to keep her happy, he’d sacrificed his professional ethics. Though for all she knew, he’d already told the authorities about his suspicions. She’d made a copy of the evidence she’d given the chief. This would be a juicy story for any newspaper. She needed to make a visit to the Intrigue Sun. When she walked in, only Wanda was at her desk, and the glassenclosed office behind her was empty. “Can I help you?” “I’m looking for Mr. Callen. Is he here?” “No, I’m sorry. Can I give him a message?” Tell him I’m sorry and that I want him in my life. “Can you give him this envelope?” He’d know what to do with it. “Sure will.” With the truth about all three stories told, she headed over to the beauty salon where her mother worked. If Jessie didn’t find another job fast, she might have to move home with her. While she adored her mother, the one-bedroom apartment wasn’t big enough for both of them and Rex, her seventy-pound dog. By the time Jessie got back to her apartment, she was quite exhausted. She bought a newspaper to look for job opportunities. She wasn’t sure what job she’d qualify for outside of journalism, but she wasn’t ever going back into broadcasting again. The censorship

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wasn’t for her. It was close to 11:30 a.m. when someone knocked on the door. She looked through the peephole and her pussy jumped up for joy. She pulled open the door. Their expressions appeared solemn. Shit. She’d done what they’d wanted. Were they coming to tell her they couldn’t be with a woman who didn’t have a job? She prayed they weren’t that shallow. “Come in.” Both took her hand and sat her down on the sofa. “How are you feeling?” Cody asked. “Happy and sad at the same time.” Both men leaned over and kissed her cheeks. “We are so proud of you,” Shane said. “How did you find out?” “When I got the envelope you left, I called the chief to tell him. He said you’d already been there, and that by disclosing the offense, you’d been fired.” “I’ll have to admit, doing the right thing felt good.” “I would have come over sooner, but I had a few articles to get out.” Cody winked. Relief washed through her. “So you nailed the Burger Haus and Lysner’s Automotive?” “While I was talking to the chief, I learned that they planned on nailing the President of Harman Security. Chief Strong is also trying to find evidence to tie him to Rhonda’s murder.” She leaned back against the seat. “That’s so fantastic.” “It’s all due to you. If you hadn’t stood up for what was right, justice wouldn’t have been served.” “I’m glad.” Shane got up from the seat across from her and sat next to her. He took her hands. “What’s the matter?” “What’s the matter? I lost my job today.” “If you need a loan, Cody and I can help.”

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She waved her hands. “I’m not a charity case. I need a job.” “Come work for me,” Cody chimed in. She chuckled. “You don’t pay enough. I know the pay scale.” Cody squeezed her knee. “You could always move in with us. That would save on rent.” The idea was incredibly enticing, but she didn’t need their pity. “I appreciate the offer, but I’ll figure something out.” Shane squeezed her hands. “You won’t move away from Intrigue, will you?” She had to smile at the fear crossing his normally stoic face. “I hope I don’t have to, but I might need to. There aren’t exactly a lot of jobs here.” Cody nodded to his friend. “What do you think about convincing Jessie what she’d be missing if she left us?” “I’m not sure she even likes us enough if she’s contemplating moving.” They were only kidding her. She hoped. “You guys know I have to have a job.” Cody turned her shoulders toward them. “How about if we asked if you’d be willing to move in with us, whether you have a job or not. We both love you, Jessie. That’s why we got on your case about pursuing the hard stories.” His words finally registered. “You love me? As in love love me?” “Yes, we love love you.” A crest of joy lifted her up. “I love you both, too.” She giggled, unable to contain her thrill. “How about we show you just how much?” “I’d like that.” She turned to Shane. “I don’t think I’m ready for any more fiery heat for a while.” “I’m okay with that. Besides, I have other things to occupy you.” She couldn’t help but glance at his cock, praying she’d get to experience both of her men at the same time. Cody stood and swooped her up in his arms, acting as if she

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weighed less than a stack of newspapers. He headed to her bedroom, delicately placed her on the bed, and turned on a side table lamp. The idea of making love to both men already had her pussy in high gear. “I’ve been so jealous of what Shane had with you. I can’t wait to delve into your luscious body and pack you full of my cock.” She loved when he talked dirty. “Shane, you’re going to let him talk to me like that?” “Babe, all I’ve been thinking about is your sweet ass. As much as your pussy turns me on something fierce, I just want to take you in your behind so bad, I can hardly sleep.” She loved that her men were as single-minded sometimes as she was. “Then I want to strip both of you naked and suck on your cocks first.” “We’re not sure—” She held up a hand. “My house. My rules.” They both looked at each other and shrugged. “Have at us, then.” Cody lifted his arms, ready for her to take off his shirt. “You boys will have to have some patience while I strip you.” She pulled Cody’s T-shirt over his head and ran her fingers over his abs. “I do love your body.” She whipped around and repeated the same procedure on Shane. She had to admit, Shane had a bit more definition, but given his profession, that was to be expected. Perhaps she spent a little too much time playing with Shane, because Cody turned her around. “I’m dying here.” She laughed. “Take off your shoes. Both of you.” They immediately obeyed. Next she unbuttoned Cody’s jeans and slipped them down over his hips. “No underwear? What would your mother say?” For a split second, his eyes had widened, as though she would spill the beans. Then he smiled. “She’d be proud that I’m going to bring home the best girl in Intrigue.” Since his sister had married two men, she figured his folks were

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open-minded. “You do say the nicest things.” Before she spun around to divest Shane of his pants, she leaned over and gave a quick suck on Cody’s dick. His shoulders stiffened along with his cock. Shane grabbed hold of her ass. “This might be my favorite view.” “Keep your hose in your pants, Mr. Fireman,” she said over her shoulder. “That’s hard to do with your ass staring at me.” They all laughed as she spun around and took off his jeans. He, too, was ready. She positioned them so that they were side by side. Oh, my. “You are two fine male specimens.” Cody grabbed his cock. “You better hurry with what you’re going to do because my need to take you is getting stronger by the minute.” Since she’d been with Shane last, she replaced Cody’s hand with hers and ran her tongue down his full length. The head turned purple and the vein pulsed. Once she thoroughly wet his dick, she drew him into her mouth. He tasted almost sweet. She sucked him in and out, keeping her mouth as tight as she could around his cock. When Cody pressed his fingers into her shoulder she looked up. His eyes were closed and his lips were pressed together. Time to stop. An explosion so soon wouldn’t do her any good. Since Shane was standing next to Cody so patiently, she leaned over and drew him into her mouth. She bared her teeth and dragged them upward. Shane hissed. “Okay, that’s enough. I can’t wait any longer for you.” She laughed at his desperation. “I’m ready.” Cody and Shane lifted her up and positioned her on the bed. Her boots came off first then her socks. As if together they’d undressed a woman many times before, Cody took the top half and Shane the bottom. “Lift your hips,” Shane said after he unhooked her belt and unbuttoned her jeans.

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In a flash, he removed her pants. Cody took his time undoing each button on her shirt. He opened the front and ran a finger down her chest. “I haven’t been able to get these perfect breasts out of my mind.” Both men were exaggerating, but she wouldn’t trade them for the world. “I’m an ass man myself,” Shane chimed in. Cody threaded a hand between the bed and her back and lifted her up. With his free hand, he dragged her shirt down to her elbows before taking it off. Both men stood back and seemed to admire her. The heady perusal made her face heat up and her pussy moisten. “We have to do something about these clothes, Shane.” In no time, Shane had her panties off, and Cody had divested her of her bra. They both climbed onto the bed. Cody dropped to his stomach between her thighs, and Shane lay within mouth distance of her tits. The two men went to work on her. Shane cupped her tit and sucked hard on the nipple. The delirious pain woke up every part of her body. Good thing they hadn’t tied her down because now she was able to touch her men. With her left hand she placed her palm on Shane’s back. With her right, all she could reach was Cody’s shoulder. Cody was teasing her with gentle touches and soft licks. She yearned for the pressure and the intensity. She bet he knew that, which was why he was taking his time exploring her. When his tongue finally took its first big suck, she groaned and arched her back. “Yes, Cody. Keep doing that.” He chuckled. She should have taken more time sucking their cocks. If she had, they’d be more ready to take her. Too bad she’d been too anxious to make love to them. Probably because her attention seemed focused on what Cody was doing, Shane did the same thing to her as she’d done to him. He scraped his teeth across her nipple, stretching it taut, and making her beg for more. He reached across her body and lightly pinched the other nipple as he continued his erotic torture of the one nearest him. Both nipples turned red and

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turgid, which caused sparks to shoot straight down to her needy cunt. Shane scooted forward and dragged kisses up her neck. The anticipation of his lips on hers drove her wild. She licked her lips in anticipation of tasting him. She was rewarded a moment later when he kissed her. Opening her mouth, she darted her tongue into his beckoning warmth. Beer and mint toothpaste blended together and greeted her eagerly. Their tongues danced and mated as if they were meant to be together for all time. Only when Cody wove two fingers into her pussy did her breath catch and rattle in her chest. His divine finger movements sent her soaring. He strummed his fingers over her clit, then leaned in and sucked her hard. Dear God, she wasn’t going to last. Waves of feral need grabbed hold. The faster he sucked, the more blood pulsed in her veins until a climax of enormous magnitude swept her away. As if the two men were waiting for her release, they moved away while she caught her breath. Shane scooted to the head of the bed and knelt with his back to the wall. He tapped her head. “Get on your hands and knees and face Cody.” She wasn’t quite sure how all of this was going to work, but she wanted a cock so bad she’d do anything for it. Shane rubbed her back while Cody reached under her and cupped her breasts. His rough palms over her sensitive nipples stirred new longings in her. Just as she was growing increasingly aroused, Shane slipped a lubed finger into her butthole. This time she didn’t flinch, wanting to have his big cock impale her. “Is that all you got?” She didn’t know why she had to inflame the situation, but she knew he was taking his time with her. In slipped two fingers then three. Okay, maybe she shouldn’t have demanded his cock so soon. She clamped down on the fingers, and he chuckled. “Forgot how big things could get, right?” She loved when he teased her. He reached under her and pinched

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her clit. Her own natural lube flowed out. He extracted the fingers from her anus, and with his other hand, dragged her juices up her divide. He swirled the liquid around her hole. “Are you ready for me?” he said with a swagger. She inhaled. “Yes.” He dragged his condom-covered cock up and down her divide. That simple movement got her excited. When he nudged the head through her tight ring, she clenched. “Sorry.” She knew that would make things more difficult for him. Cody must have sensed that she needed to relax for he began a more aggressive assault on her nipples. His ministrations worked. Shane’s cock popped in. He waited a bit before he continued his travels down her darkened channel. “You are so tight, I might come right away.” “Don’t you dare.” She wanted to experience both of them at the same time. He squeezed her rear tight and edged closer to the end. As if he thought it might be easier for her, he seesawed back and forth, delving deeper with each thrust. Each nerve he hit lit up like a Fourth of July sparkler fest. New ones exploded after each plunge. “I’m going to lean you back. This might fill you up.” Shane clasped her shoulders and pulled her onto her knees. His cock drove in deeper. “Oh, my God.” “She likes it, Cody.” The movement stole her breath away. Shane held her steady until the newness wore off. Then he leaned back and stretched out his legs beside her. She was now sitting on his cock, fully impaling her. Her rapid pants made noise. “I’m going to hold up your hips and thrust into you so Cody can fuck that sweet pussy of yours.” Music to her ears. Only now did it occur to her that both men

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would not fit. “This isn’t going to work.” Kneeling, Cody moved closer and placed one foot on the bed. His covered cock lined up with her pussy. “Oh, yes it will.” Before he fucked her, he leaned over and gently kissed her. “I can’t tell you how much I love you. There are no words.” Her body melted at his wonderful phrases. All that pain of learning physics and freezing to death on cold metal bleachers so she could watch her football hero play ball was now all worth it. “Ditto.” As his lips consumed hers, he placed the tip at her opening and drove in. Shane had mercifully kept still. She milked Cody’s cock. “You’re killing me here.” He cupped her face and kissed her again. Shane lifted her up and gave Cody a better angle to take her. Each time he drove in, his cock rubbed against her clit. Her body heated and flames licked up her spine. She grabbed onto Cody’s shoulders to keep from falling backward. Shane clasped onto her tits and lunged into her ass at the same time that Cody plunged in. “Oh, God. You’re both too big.” “Never,” Cody said. Sensing she was on overload, they slowed their pace. Shane mostly pulled out when Cody slipped in to give her some breathing room. Her fingernails dug into Cody’s shoulders with each thrust. Her pussy and ass were in total heaven. Never had she experienced anything like this before. “Harder.” Her climax was building, and she didn’t want them to stop. Shane’s breaths came faster and faster as his balls slapped her ass. His savage demands built as he plunged into her. Her pussy slickened with each one of Cody’s thrusts, and blood pounded in her head as an overwhelming fire tore up her body. Her need exploded as a volt of electricity coursed through her from pussy to ass. When her climax took her and stole her breath, her mind blanked.

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Torrents of bubbling pleasure washed over her. “Cody, Shane. Oh, God.” “Hold on,” Cody said. As if her climax was his signal, he clasped her shoulders and pummeled down her wet channel. At his final drive, Shane, too, went in hard. Together they were fully seated in her. A burst of warmth shot through her as both men came. The only sound was that of their breaths. Sweat filled the air and her pussy perfumed the room. It seemed like minutes before both Shane and Cody pulled out. Since Cody was at the end of the bed, he got off and moved to the bathroom where he retrieved a towel. He wiped her down, then himself. He tossed the towel to Shane, who repeated the process. “I’m not sure I could live like this,” Shane said. She turned around. “You didn’t like it?” “Oh, I more than liked it. In fact, I want this so often, I might not even respond if a fire broke out.” He grinned.

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Chapter Fourteen The next two weeks were crazy. Not only had she attended the funeral for Rhonda and Greg Tanner, but she’d spent a lot of time applying for jobs. Finally she got an offer at an investigative firm in Cheyenne. She wouldn’t be doing anything dangerous, just calling people and doing research. The pay wasn’t great, but she could mostly work from home. That would give her the time and opportunity to sell her news stories to magazines. In fact, a magazine had already offered to buy the Tanner story article she’d tried to get Walt to put on air. Between those two jobs, she hoped to make a decent living. Her phone rang. It was KRPT. Her breath caught as she debated not answering it, but maybe the call involved something about her last paycheck. “Hello?” “Jessie, this is Fred Andrews, CEO of KRPT.” Her heart jumped. The CEO was calling her? “Yes?” She prayed her voice hadn’t wavered. “I wanted to let you know that the board of KRPT fired Walt Mitchell for his actions. I suspect he’ll be doing some jail time for all the cover-ups. I wanted to let you know that his actions to censor all of your stories were never condoned by this station.” She wasn’t sure what he expected her to say. To voice her true opinion probably might not go over well. “Thank you for letting me know.” That was lame. “We’d like to ask if you’d be willing to come back to the station? We promise the kind of practices Walt exercised will not be tolerated again. We’d also like to give you a twenty percent raise.”

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Her heart spiked. For a split second she was tempted by the big paycheck and the boost to her self-esteem but reason intruded. She doubted any television station could stay away from some kind of deceit for long. “Thank you for the offer, but I’ve found other employment.” Her hands shook and her pulse raced, but she knew this was the right decision. “I’m sorry to hear that. If you change your mind, let us know.” After he disconnected, she sat there numb. Never had she expected to be offered her job back. She also never would have believed that she’d turn them down. She hoped she hadn’t acted rashly. No. It was the right thing to do. She now understood that to compromise her morals was to compromise her life. She’d never find happiness that way. Besides, Cody and Shane would be proud. Speaking of which, she needed to get ready for the dinner at Cody’s parents’ house tonight. While she’d met them before, it was when she was in high school. Cody told her not to be nervous. He said this was a typical dinner at the homestead. Typical, my ass. She bet his parents would grill her about her job, about her background, about why she was worthy enough for their son. It would be hard to hand over Cody to another woman. She’d done some sleuthing and found out that Mr. Callen loved Scotch whisky. At the liquor store she bought a very expensive brand. She hoped he liked it. Given they were ranchers, she wore boots, jeans, and a plaid shirt. When she glanced in the mirror, even she was convinced she looked like she belonged on a ranch. Her doorbell rang, and she rushed to answer it. Two of the most handsome men stood there. She grinned. “Wow. You look hot, babe.” Shane strode in and looked over his shoulder at Cody. “You think we have time for a little loving?” He bent over and kissed her. Cody chuckled. “Don’t I wish? I’m betting my mom would get

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royally pissed if her dinner didn’t get eaten when she served it.” “I guess you’re right, but after dinner, you’re all mine, babe.” She loved these men with her whole heart. “Come on then,” Cody said. “You aren’t nervous, are you?” “Why would I be nervous? Yes, I’m nervous. I’m a mess in fact. This is like going on my first interview. You said your dad could be tough.” He nodded to the bottle in her hand. “Give him that, and he’ll be eating out of your hand all night.” “I’m hoping.” Once they got in the truck, she told them about the call from the station. “You did the right thing,” Cody said. “All companies will tell you they are honest, but sooner or later, money rears its ugly head. You would have been put in the same situation as before.” “That’s what I thought.” Getting their approval meant the world to her. When they pulled up in front of Cody’s parents’ house, her jitters returned. She’d forgotten how opulent the home was. She’d never fit in this family. “Come on. They’re going to love you. Trust me.” Cody’s blue eyes shimmered. “Let’s hope.” He helped her out of the truck and wrapped an arm around her waist. Shane walked next to her. Together they went inside. The smell of steaks’ sizzling juices permeated the house. “Smells divine.” “You’ll love my mom’s cooking. She’s the best.” Samantha rushed down the hallway. She gave Cody and Shane a warm kiss then hugged her. “So good to see you. Thanks for the call. It was good to hear from you after all these years.” Jessie had called Sam to make sure she was okay after the shooting. “I want to meet your two handsome husbands.”

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“Come on, then.” She led her into the living room. “You remember Wade and Heath Watson, don’t you?” Wow. They’d changed. They were always handsome, but these two had grown into big, strong men. “Yes. They were a year ahead of me in school.” They, too, had been out of reach for the poor girl. They shook hands. His father was seated on the sofa. He reached up his arms. “So this is the woman who has stolen my son’s heart.” He sounded so kind she wanted to hug him. She shook his hand instead then handed him the bottle of scotch. “I thought you might like this.” Mr. Callen looked between Shane and Cody. “You got a good one, boys.” Heat raced up her face at the unexpected compliment. Mrs. Callen rushed in wearing an apron. “Oh, my. What did you get, Josh?” He held up the bottle and grinned. She removed it from his hands. “You can have one drink after dinner. That’s all.” Mrs. Callen faced her. “He loves his scotch, but it’s bad for him, you know.” No, she didn’t. “I’m sorry.” “Don’t be. He’d have found a way to sneak something in no matter what.” She stepped closer. “Let me give you a welcoming hug.” When Mrs. Callen wrapped her arms around her, her whole body relaxed. “Thanks for inviting me.” “I’m so happy my son will finally settle down. I thought I’d never get any grandchildren.” She sent a glance over at Samantha, who just grinned. Whoops. Neither Shane nor Cody had officially popped the question. His parents were getting a little ahead here. As for children, she’d love to have a ton of them, but she had no idea whether Shane or Cody wanted any, so she said nothing. “When’s dinner, Mom?” Cody asked.

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“It’s ready now. Sam, will you get your sister and the twins?” After a few shouts, a woman, who she guessed was April, came down the stairs. She was a stunning beauty. The twins, who Cody said were a year younger than he was, ambled in. “This is Max,” Cody said, pointing to a ruggedly handsome man who looked a lot like him, “and this is Ian.” The two resembled each other, but they weren’t identical. Mrs. Callen clapped her hands. “Come sit down.” Jessie sat between Shane and Cody and across from Sam. Throughout dinner, the conversation never lagged. She heard all about Sam’s honeymoon in Hawaii, and then how much fun she was having teaching groups of people about ranching and cowboys. No one in the family grilled her, but they kept her involved. After a fabulous steak dinner with more food than they could eat, Mrs. Callen brought out a huge cake. She placed a candle on top and lit it. “Jessie, it’s your turn to blow it out.” She had no idea what was going on. Shane nudged her. “It’s a Callen tradition. I’ve done it. Whenever anyone is welcomed into the family, they get a cake and a candle.” Tears formed in her eyes. She’d never seen such love abound. “Do I make a wish?” Mrs. Callen smiled, and the lines around her eyes crinkled. “Absolutely, but make it a good one because it will come true.” I want to spend the rest of life with these two wonderful men. She blew out the candle, and the whole group applauded. Both Shane and Cody stood and stepped back. Jessie turned around to see what they were up to. “We thought now would be a good time to ask this,” Cody said. They both got on their knees. “Since I am the eldest by one month, two weeks, and four days, I get to do the honors.” From his pocket he withdrew a red velvet box. When he flipped open the lid, her heart almost exploded. Inside was an exquisite diamond ring. One large stone sat in the middle surrounded by several

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smaller ones. “Oh, my.” “Will you, Jessie McCallister, be our lawfully wedded wife?” Her heart beat so fast, no words formed. She reached behind her, took a sip of her water, and faced them. “I do!” They got up and pulled her to a stand. When each kissed her, the applause and cheers nearly deafened her. “This calls for a drink,” Mr. Callen announced. “And woman,” he said, pointing a finger at his wife, “do not tell me I can’t have one.” “You may have two. This is a very special occasion.” Sam and April gave her a hug, telling her how excited they were to have her in the family. Jessie had never felt so loved. Mrs. Callen shooed them out of the dining room. “Go celebrate in the living room. I’ll bring out the drinks and cut the cake.” “I’ll help, Mom,” Sam said. “Me, too,” April replied. For the rest of the night Jessie couldn’t stop bubbling over. They must have toasted her engagement ten times. By midnight, she was ready to drop. Cody nodded to Shane. “We need to take our fiancée home for the evening.” That announcement followed more hugs and good wishes. By the time she got in the car, she was almost asleep. She sat in the backseat with Shane holding her. “Are you happy, babe?” “Immensely. There’s only one more thing I want.” “What’s that?” Cody chimed from the front seat. “Two large cocks for me to have and to hold.” They all laughed, and Shane spent the rest of the drive home getting her ready for her wish.

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THE END

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Unlike most other authors, I started writing late in life. Writing stories in high school and college was not for me. Only after I graduated did I fall in love with romance novels. For the next twenty years, I read voraciously. It got to a point where my book-buying habits cost as much as my groceries. At that point, my husband suggested I write a book. Hey, it looked easy, right? All the stories started in the same spot (hero and heroine at odds) and ended the same way (happily ever after). Only it was anything but easy. Eleven years and fifteen completed romantic suspenses later, I finally published. I never would have gotten that far had it not been for two local Chapters whose generous members shared their amazing wealth of knowledge.

Also by Melody Snow Monroe Ménage Everlasting: The Callens 1: Leather and Lace

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